STATEMENT

We won’t stop until Palestine is free!

“Get her! She’s one of the organizers.”

On Saturday, the New York Police Department descended on a pro-Palestine protest as it was assembling. They targeted and arrested identifiable organizers, protesters holding megaphones, and people who began recording the arrests. The crackdown was a blatant display of aggression intended to stop the movement in solidarity with Palestine, which has taken the streets of New York week after week. Since October, this movement, which consists of a broad spectrum of organizations, has withstood many incidents of police intimidation, harassment and arrest, and it will continue to do so. 

The arrested on Saturday included leading organizers of many pro-Palestine actions in New York City, including Manolo de los Santos, Layan Fuleihan, and David Chung of The People’s Forum, Mohamed E. from PAL-Al Awda NY, Claudia de la Cruz, Lillian House, Mustafa Al-Nomani and Salma Allam of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Yazen A. of Uptown for Palestine, and ___ of American Muslims for Palestine.  

“For 108 days we have been mobilizing nonstop in the streets of New York City against the US-Israeli genocide on the Palestinian people in Gaza,” said Miriam Osman of the Palestinian Youth Movement. “The intimidation tactics of the NYPD will not stop our growing movement. We will continue to protest until all of our demands are met.” 

“Police officers specifically picked out Palestinians and leading organizers of color from the crowd for arrest. 3 to 5 cops rushed me when an officer said, ‘Grab that guy!’ This was a failed intimidation tactic and we will continue to shut it down and mobilize until we have a free Palestine,” said Mohamed, a member of Palestine Liberation for Assembly and Al Awda the Palestine Right to Return Coalition. 

“We affirm that it is our legal right and our moral responsibility as people of conscience, and especially as people in the United States,” said Layan Fuleihan, one of the arrested. “The real criminals are in the White House and we will continue to speak, march, and protest for the end of the occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people.”

From San Francisco to New York City, Atlanta to Merrimack, Boise to Washington, Tampa to Chicago, we have seen those who stand up for Palestine get hit with false arrests and ridiculous charges. We call on the whole movement to unite in solidarity against all forms of repression and to drop the charges on all those who are taking action to stop this genocide. 

We call on New Yorkers to join us this Saturday at Union Square at 12pm to march again, stronger than ever, for freedom for Palestine. Let our message be clear: We won’t stop until Palestine is free!