BY EMMA ABATA
Los Alamos

This Saturday, Oct. 18, marks a deeply significant milestone—two years of weekly protest in support of Palestinian freedom. What began as a small act of conscience has grown into a sustained local movement, a space for education, grief, and community, and a relentless demand for justice.

It all began on Oct. 7, 2023, when the world witnessed the Palestinian Resistance fight back against their violent oppressors during the events known as Al-Aqsa Flood. Almost immediately, racist war propaganda flooded the media. False reports of beheaded babies and mass rape were circulated with shocking velocity, all of which were lies that have been repeatedly debunked by credible sources. These claims were not innocent mistakes—they were hasbara, a deliberate strategy to manufacture consent for genocide and ethnic cleansing, and to secure the support of the Western world for Israel’s ongoing violence against Palestinians.

Thanks to Black Revolutionaries, I knew the truth. I knew the historical context. I knew that these lies were being used to justify extreme violence, and that silence would mean complicity. I called my mother, we called local organizations, and we realized: nobody in our town was organizing. So, we decided to fill the gap ourselves.

Our first protest was held on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. Only my mother and I showed up. It was terrifying. It was lonely. Most people did not understand, or refused to confront the reality of what was unfolding. Privilege and comfort often make confrontation difficult, and we were met with hate and aggression. I was spit on three times. We were called slurs, terrorists, Jew-haters, anti-Semites—all of which were far from the truth. We are simply people of conscience, compelled to stand against oppression and violence wherever we see it.

Over time, a few brave souls joined us. Eventually, we had a small, committed group of five or six people who came every Saturday, holding signs that educated passersby, encouraged calls to Congress for a ceasefire, and advocated for boycotts. Our Saturday gatherings became more than protests—they became a sanctuary. A place to grieve, to rage, to process the trauma of watching a genocide unfold in real time: babies and children murdered, families torn apart and starved, elderly Palestinians walking miles under sniper fire with only what they could carry on their backs, Palestinian men stripped, tortured, and executed in concentration camps.

This trauma, difficult as it is to bear, became a shared burden. We processed together, leaned on each other, and found strength in community. And yet, our town’s lack of understanding, support, and willingness to engage was disheartening. We knew we had to do more. That’s when the idea for the Free Palestine Summer Series was born.

Over the summer, we hosted a four-part film series to educate our community and spark meaningful action. The films—No Other Land, Where the Olive Trees Weep, Israelism, and The Encampments—offered perspectives often missing from mainstream narratives. 

We paired the screenings with talks from three exceptional speakers:

• Dr. Steve Feldman, a Jewish American scholar, illuminated how Jewish values call for supporting Palestinians in their struggle against the colonial Zionist project, which he framed as a systemic ethno-state perpetuating apartheid and violence. Link to the recording: https://youtu.be/F0uCSDhLIsQ?si=QiQxDM6ddSdfNJAp
• Dr. Yousef Al-Jamal, a Gaza refugee with a PhD in Middle Eastern studies, shared the stories of his family and community, including the harrowing survival of his niece Noor, whose entire family was killed during an Israeli airstrike. His testimony brought the human cost of occupation into painfully clear focus. Link to the recording: https://youtu.be/JOKKWIegYT4?si=j_KTHzFJ6kU-ofcZ
• Lee Gordon, director of Hand in Hand integrated schools in Israel, demonstrated that peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis is possible. The true barrier, he explained, is not people but the systemic violence of occupation and the oppression of an ethno-state. Link to the recording: https://youtu.be/TAQzPh1k4aE?si=v3Y4Gvioamrt7Wdl

The Free Palestine Summer Series not only educated our community—it moved people to action. Through this initiative, we raised over $1,500 to support the Sameer Project and Noor’s medical care. And the conversation continues both online and in future events. The four films can be accessed through Watermelon Pictures online if you missed them at SALA, and the recordings of the talks are available on YouTube at the links above. Additionally, I want to encourage people to listen to the Beyond Israelism Podcast (check it out here: https://zeteo.com/s/beyond-israelism ) and The Red Nation Podcast (check it out here: https://www.therednation.org/the-red-nation-podcast/ ), both provide a thoughtful continuation of these important discussions.

It’s important to note, our protests and educational initiatives are rooted in more than awareness—they are a call to action. Power does not reside solely in voting once every four years; it lies in persistent, consistent political organizing. We encourage community members to call their representatives through the Five Calls app to demand ceasefires, arms embargoes, and an end to occupation and apartheid daily or weekly. We also teach the importance of BDS (boycotts, divestment, and sanctions)—the historically proven strategies that dismantled apartheid in South Africa.

For two years and 104 consecutive Saturdays, we have shown up. We have borne witness. We have persisted in the face of hostility and indifference. And we will continue to fight.

This Saturday, Oct. 18, we invite anyone who shares our vision of justice and human rights to join us at 11 a.m. at Ashley Pond Park for our Two Years of Protest Anniversary. Come stand with us, learn with us, and act with us. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are resilient. And together, we will continue to fight until all people are free. Free Palestine!