Protesters rally in support of Palestinians over Israeli bombings

On Saturday, about 50 community members gathered at Zussman Park to protest the Israeli treatment of Palestinians.

By Charles Sercombe
About 50 people gathered on Saturday afternoon at Zussman Park to protest the ongoing clashes between Israel and Palestinians.
While there is a cease fire now, there had been worldwide protest over Israel’s bombing of buildings in the Gaza Strip in the name of eradicating Hammas.
The Israeli government says that the targeted bombings began after Hammas first started bombing Israeli cities.
Hundreds of Palestinians have died – including children — and thousands became homeless after their homes and apartment buildings were destroyed.
Those who gathered at Zussman Park were mostly from the Bengali and Yemeni communities. Most were holding Palestinian flags in an act of solidarity.

MD Alum was the first to speak at the gathering, with a chant:
“Palestine will be free,
From the ocean to the sea,
Palestine will be free!”
Later another chant arose:
“Long live the intifada!”
And then:
“1,2,3,4,
Israel is a
Terrorist state!”
Several of those who spoke voiced their opposition to congress for selling military weapons to Israel.
“This is an issue of humanity,” said Alum. “Israel has a right to defend, but not to attack,” he said.
Kamal Rahman, was one of several local candidates running for office who spoke.
“At no time in history have we seen such misery,” said Rahman, who is running for mayor. “They’re (Israel) killing people – calling them terrorists. If Israel can claim self-defense, so can Palestinians.”
Councilmember Mohammed Hassan was more pointed in his criticism of Israel.
“Israel is the number one terrorist in the world,” Hassan said.
MD Alum also called out Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan for approving a recent weapon sale to Israel.
“Shame on you, Gary Peters,” Alum said.
Councilmember Hassan added that Peters can no longer take the support of Bengalis and Yemenis for granted.
The Review both called and emailed Peters’ office but, as of Thursday, the day The Review went to press, there was no response.
State Rep. Abraham Aiyash said that, while he rejects anti-Jewish sentiment (“We want to be clear about that.”), he said Israel is guilty of genocide.
Israel, he said, is an “apartheid state.”
As for US support of Israel, he said that makes this country “complicit in ethnic cleansing.”
Posted May 28, 2021