On Palestine and Protests
Writing on June 27, 2025
This week, I watched Gaza Fights for Freedom, a 2019 documentary about the 2018 “Great March of Return” protests and documents Israel’s violation of international law. The film contextualizes these protests within the broader history between Israel and Palestine, from the ethnic cleansing of Huj (known today as Sderot) in the late 1940s, through the Nakba, decades of resistance movements including the First Intifada, up to the modern era (as of 2019). It also describes how the Israeli government and media lie and manipulate the truth to defend themselves and justify their actions. This is further supported by unconditional support from the US military and media that has completely warped the American (and really the global West’s) view of Israel and the Middle East.
This film was a hard watch. I felt frustrated watching the manipulation unfold during the documentary. I felt both outrage and despair seeing the systemic and illegal/immoral dehumanization of Palestinians through both rhetoric and actual violence. Israel’s genocidal regime spreads far beyond just its territorial expansion, but also includes the complete subjugation of the Palestinian people. Palestinians have zero sovereignty: from severely limiting access to basic necessities like food, gas, and electricity, to restricting movement even to get adequate healthcare for critical injuries/illnesses; all of this is fully dictated by the Israeli government. Despite these undeniable realities, people and governments, especially the US government, accept and actively enable it.
The Israeli government’s dehumanization and depravity don’t stop there. This film shows how they directly target unarmed civilians, including the elderly, children, and the disabled. They also target journalists and medical personnel, uniquely protected roles stated by UN international law. Even if these actions occurred during a war, they would still be crimes.
I am most disappointed by the US media and politicians who continually allow this to genocide to happen because it means there’s no accountability. Regardless of political affiliation, this genocide has made it clear that there’s a stark divide between our public demands and those in power. We see this not just in the continual and unconditional military aid the US sends to Israel, but also in the domestic response to pro-Palestinian activism in the US. Throughout 2024, police and even military forces were deployed to suppress college student protests. We typically see this level of state violence for Black Lives Matter or anti-ICE protests. I bring this connection to serve as a reminder that not only are our struggles connected, but the systems used to continue oppressing marginalized peoples are the same.
Why is it so hard to see each other as humans? To not assume the worst? To not want a just and equal world? At every turn, the ruling party (the oppressive body) wants to encourage polarization while always pretending to hold the higher/more moral ground. It disgusts me, and yet my anger feels worthless.
My journey since traveling to Israel and the West Bank in 2019 has been one of learning, unlearning, and connecting the intertwined struggles of oppressed people.
The most powerful books I've read on these are:
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine — Rashid Khalidi
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This — Omar El Akkad
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle — Angela Y. Davis
The Message — Ta-Nehisi Coates
The World After Gaza — Pankaj Mishra
Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza — Peter Beinart
No Other Land (2024, film)
Through these books, you come to quickly learn that systems of oppression touch everyone and everything.
For me, I continually ask:
What does a just future look like?
What does accountability look like?
How do we atone for our collective sins, if possible?
On Protesting
While I don't have an answer directly, I find guidance in energy justice principles of “stopping the bad and promoting the good”. Stopping the bad is realizing that our ongoing struggles with climate change, immigration, and militarization are all interconnected. As the Democratic Party establishment continues to shift to the right (pushing for more militarization and limited and meaningful progressive action), we need a complete reframe in our approach to governance, not just in our words but in our actions. To do this, we need to “promote the good” by defending institutions that preserve our ability to protest and elect leaders fairly and freely.
One of the most touching parts of this film, to me personally, was watching Palestinians protesting for their own freedom. Every week, I protest for a free Palestine (and also against so many other interconnected injustices). We chant the same words, fly the same fliers, and sing the same songs. Protesting is scary, especially in this political climate, but it's a right we must exercise to demonstrate our free speech. Palestinians don't have this luxury as protesting comes with the risk of death (the whole Great March of Return). Whenever I doubt going, I ask “What is one hour of my time worth if not fighting for brothers and sisters embroiled in the same struggle?”
Finally, this film was impactful because of the context in which I saw it. It was screened at a local church as part of a series hosted by a group of churches and organizations. It’s very easy for churches to either stay silent or blindly support Israel, which has been successfully framed to be the “holy land”. I find it abhorrent how this narrative persists while conducting a genocide. These conversations are so hard to have within Christian communities, but the right thing must be done. To be in this space with other Christians made this experience really impactful to me.
My apologies for less frequent updates; I’ve started several drafts in the last six months but it's hard to follow through especially with so much happening all the time. I'll try to follow through and still share. Even if it's short. Especially if it's short - I'm sure that's better for you all. Hope everyone is doing well. Say hello if it’s been a minute!
Thanks for reading,
Awoe ✌🏾
need your voice, keep them coming bro!