Washington, D.C. – Thousands of people are expected to gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this weekend to show their support for Palestinian rights.
The rally, organized by a coalition of Palestinian-American and Muslim-American groups, is set to take place on Saturday, May 15th, which marks the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, or “catastrophe,” when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
According to the organizers, the goal of the rally is to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations and injustices faced by Palestinians, including the recent violence in Gaza and the forced evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem.
“We are coming together to demand an end to the occupation and the apartheid system that oppresses Palestinians on a daily basis,” said Noura Erakat, a Palestinian-American human rights attorney and one of the organizers of the rally.
The event is expected to draw a diverse crowd, including activists, community leaders, and politicians from across the United States. Speakers at the rally will include Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, and civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
In addition to the rally, there will also be a march from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House, where participants will call on the U.S. government to take action and hold Israel accountable for its actions against Palestinians.
The rally comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas resulting in the deaths of over 200 Palestinians, including many children, and 12 Israelis.
The U.S. government has faced criticism for its response to the violence, with many calling for a more balanced approach and for the U.S. to use its influence to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The rally on Saturday is just one of many events taking place around the world in support of Palestinian rights. Similar rallies have been held in cities such as London, Paris, and Toronto, with thousands of people coming together to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
As the world watches and waits for a resolution to the ongoing conflict, the voices of those gathering on the National Mall this weekend will serve as a powerful reminder that the fight for justice and equality for Palestinians is far from over.
