Standing in Solidarity with Palestine, Plus 6 Effective Ways to Support If You Cannot Donate or March
Photo taken at the pro-Palestinian march in D.C. to demand Gaza cease-fire.
Our mission to cultivate and create safe spaces for (BIPOC) Black, Indigenous, & People of Color to heal has always extended to Palestine. We've been heartbroken witnessing the struggles in Palestine and want to make it unequivocally clear where we stand. Reclama wholeheartedly condemns the ongoing genocide and express our solidarity with the Palestinian community.
It's crucial to call it what it is because the violence, death and oppression happening right now are devastating. We recognize the enduring trauma caused by all forms of oppression. We firmly reject harmful ideologies like – but not limited to – colonialism, Islamophobia, racism and antisemitism. Children are dying and it needs to stop. We are pleading for a ceasefire. Stop using our tax dollars to fund a genocide.
In our ongoing efforts to make an impact, Reclama is actively unlearning and relearning, having those uncomfortable conversations and doing what we can to help dismantle all forms of oppression. We’re also committing to offering space in our upcoming retreats (free of charge) for women in the Palestinian community. We’ll also be donating 10% of our sales profits to Palestine.
We have been creating safe spaces for women of color since 2018 because we understand that most of our problems are systemic and need to be handled with care, transparency and with a community who wholeheartedly understands. Reclama always strives to dismantle oppressive structures and nurture a community that thrives on respect, empathy, and shared humanity.
Editor’s Note: This took way too long for me to publish. In early October, I was sick and was on the brink of burnout. Once I saw the signs I had to take a step back from what I usually do when injustice takes center stage. Because if you know me, I am very vocal about protecting our most vulnerable communities. But I quite literally could not move these past few weeks. I, like many of you, have been witnessing this genocide on my phone feeling helpless. I couldn’t physically help but I took the time to educate myself on all things Gaza and it was mind boggling. I’ve sobbed for what felt like hours, called my representatives, read many articles, cried again, and have felt irrevocably paralyzed. I’ve gained my strength back since then. But this reminder kept me sane: other things changed in the past when many did not want them to and yet here we are. I understand the loss on Israel’s part as well and want no children to die on either side but what is indiscriminately happening in Gaza merits attention and immediate action. Being Pro-Palestine does not mean being Pro-Hamas. Being Pro-Palestine doesn’t mean Anti-Semitic or Anti-Jewish. Being Pro-Palestine means being Pro-Humanity. I was lucky enough to attend the Pro-Palestine protest in DC last month. It was grounding to be surrounded by over 300,000 protestors who marched in solidarity for Palestine. It was by far the smoothest protest I’ve ever attended. Peaceful and powerful. Very grateful I got to go.
Stats note: media outlets like Time and NPR reported that “thousands” showed up but, according to People’s Dispatch, “over 300,000 people poured into Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC, on November 4, in the largest Palestine solidarity demonstration in US history.” Democracy Now also reported the same. For visuals, check out the aerial footage aqui. Having attended this march, I do not believe it was only “tens of thousands”. It had to be more. I I felt it walking around Freedom Plaza and while driving in serious traffic the next day. To give you context, the famous “March on Washington” for Jobs and Freedom where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered this iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech had more than 200,000 demonstrators take part.
If I were giving reporters the benefit of the doubt, I would say stats came out right after the march so perhaps the exact tally was not available by their deadline. Or does mainstream media not want the rest of the world to know how powerful this march actually was? This angle on the story alone should have made front page news but it didn’t. There were people who flew in from California and Miami and others who drove hours on end to make it to this march. I wish this story would have gotten more play.
6 Ways to Help Palestine If You Cannot Donate or March:
Educate Yourself: Study the history, politics, and culture to be well-informed about the issues at hand before taking any action. The Palestine Academy is a solid resource.
Supporting Social Media Content: If you cannot post, then Like a post or share it. That alone helps boost the content to reach a wider audience. Here’s a cool one-pager.
Raise Awareness: Use what you have, aka your platform, to educate others about Palestine and the human rights issues they’re facing. Social media, blogs, or candid conversations all count. Check out this social media kit that you can repost.
Support Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS): This is one major way to pressure the powers that be to change its policies. It includes boycotting Israeli products and businesses and divesting from companies that profit from the occupation. Have you seen what’s already happened to Starbucks, Disney and McDonald’s? Your buying power is your superpower. Don’t you forget it. You have more power than you think.
Advocate for Palestinian Rights: Write letters, emails, or make phone calls to your elected representatives, urging them to cease fire now and support policies that promote justice, peace, and the rights of Palestinians. Tip: The 5 Calls App is a solid option.
Support Humanitarian Organizations: Contribute to organizations with your time that are already providing humanitarian aid and support to Palestinian communities, such as the organizations that mobilized the march in DC:
The Palestinian American Community Center - New Jersey; along with 400 more organizations.
Healing Sidenote: Don’t forget to show yourself compassion when learning something new. This information wasn’t available to us for a reason and once you realize why you will have to grieve that as well. Coming to terms with how BIPOC folks have been disenfranchised is not easy to process but knowing and living in truth is well worth it. Also, honor your anger. If you’re POC living in the US, chances are you are physically reacting to what’s happening in Gaza. Why? Because your DNA never forgets what the violation of humanity feels like. Your anger is sacred and is here to tell you if you’re being violated. Listen to it. Let it out. Remind yourself that in addition to hypervigilance your ancestors passed down, with that came courage and strength. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Use whatever power you have to help. If you get exhausted, take an intentional break so you can come back to it. Every ounce of effort counts.