Solidarity with Gaza virtual rally gathers 30,000

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2020
Contact: Sonya E Meyerson-Knox | sonya@jvp.org | 929-290-0317

Linda Sarsour, Stefanie Fox, and medics from Gaza call for an end to Israel’s 13-year blockade

ZOOM (March 30, 2020) — Over 30,000 people from around the world gathered online through Zoom (500) and Facebook (30,000 views) for a virtual rally to End the Blockade on Gaza. Palestinian speakers across three continents, from the occupied West Bank and Gaza, in the U.K. and the U.S., described conditions on the ground right now in Gaza, as the coronavirus continues to spread in one of the most vulnerable places on earth.

Marking the two-year anniversary of Gaza’s Great March of Return and the 44th anniversary of Land Day, Jewish Voice for Peace, MPower Change and a large coalition of Palestinian and Palestinian solidarity groups gathered for a virtual rally to #SpreadSolidarityForGaza. 

During the rally, participants made signs and shared out a petition calling on U.S. Congress to tell Israel to end the blockade now. Over 15,000 have people signed the petition. A teach-in was also held to encourage all American participants to call their members of Congress and demand that they take action to end the blockade on Gaza.

Following the rally, the #SpreadSolidarity hashtag went viral as attendees launched a Twitterstorm calling for an end to the blockade on Gaza.

Speakers included:

Stefanie Fox, Jewish Voice for Peace: “The turnout today shows just how powerful we are when we all come together. Palestinian resistance and solidarity have continued for decades and we’re going to keep going through these scary times – until the blockade on Gaza is lifted and until Palestinians are free!”

Linda Sarsour, MPower Change: “The people of Gaza are counting on the solidarity of those of us around the world to say: End the blockade! Just because we’re staying at home, doesn’t mean we don’t have power.” 

Jehad Abusalim, American Friends Service Committee: “In Gaza, like around the world, this is a moment when historic injustice and inequalities are being exposed.” 

Kamel Hawwash, Palestine Solidarity Committee: “The blockade of Gaza is a continuation of the Nakba. And the Great March of Return was about the right of Palestinians to return to their homes – the blockade must be lifted immediately.”

Issam Adwan, WeAreNotNumbers: “We are on the brink of a disaster. If we don’t raise our voices now, it will be too late.”

Maren Mantovani, Boycott National Committee and Stop the Wall campaign: “We have the power right now to start building the world we want: A world of care and not complicity!”

Complete list of speakers:

• Salem Barameh – Ramallah, Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy
• Linda Sarsour – New York City,  MPower Change
• Kamel Hawwash – London, Palestine Solidarity Committee
• Dr. Mona Qasim El-Farra – Gaza, Middle East Children’s Alliance
• Issam Adwan – Gaza, WeAreNotNumbers
• Jehad Abusalim – Boston, American Friends Service Committee
• Maren Mantovani, London, BNC and Stop the Wall

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Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 500,000 online supporters, over 70 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.