United for Peace and Justice supports the ongoing struggle for Palestinian freedom and joins with all groups calling for an arms embargo on Israel and a ceasefire of current attacks. UFPJ encourages all UFPJ member and affiliated groups to join or organize protests in the coming days. Write letters to the editor, call your elected representatives and do all you can to raise your voice with others on this long-standing, critical peace and justice issue.
Protests around the world erupted in support of a Free Palestine as Israeli warplanes once again began bombing Gaza. From one hundred thousand people in London to the several thousand in Boston and many cities in-between (Montreal, Iowa City, San Francisco…) long-time peace activists and first-time protesters donned masks, made signs and stepped into the streets in support and solidarity with Palestinians.
According to Jewish Voice for Peace, rallies were held in at least 36 U.S. cities on May 17th with their members co-sponsoring, speaking and attending in contingents that sometimes numbered in the hundreds. “The tide is shifting. We are supporting Palestinians’ liberation struggle. We are building Jewish community beyond Zionism. We are standing with the oppressed against the oppressor.” [From a Facebook post]
The U.S. is still arming Israel with a new $735M weapons sale recently (May 5, 2021) proposed by the Biden Administration. Several elected representatives (Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Pocan, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Betty McCollum, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar) have introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval (the first ever regarding a weapons sale to the Israeli government) to block this sale. UFPJ has signed on to support this resolution along with many other organizations in response to a JVP call.
As of this writing, more protests are planned around the world, you can find one near you at:
https://samidoun.net/2021/05/global-calendar-of-resistance-join-these-events-to-defend-palestine/
