Apartheid-Free Newsletter: July 2024
Palestinian artist Asmaa Aljueithni shares a photo of the only thing that survived the airstrike that left her Gaza home in ruins: one of her paintings.
Dear Apartheid-Free Pledge Signers and Community Members,
In the Apartheid-Free communities, we are committed to the long-term effort; by teaching others about the root causes of this genocide—occupation, apartheid, and settler colonialism—we are mobilizing for a world where all people are liberated, including the Palestinians, who have been struggling for their self-determination for over 76 years.
In the past month, both the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church have made historic votes to divest from Israel Bonds. These bonds, which the Israeli government has unrestricted access to, are used to fund the violent displacement of Palestinians. The Unitarian Universalists have also overwhelmingly voted in support of an end to the war on Gaza and U.S. complicity in that war. May these votes inspire us all to continue our work to end all support to Israeli apartheid!
Despite the progress and the challenges, we continue to cling to our phones for updates, praying for an end to the genocide in Gaza. More than ever, we must rely on our communities for support. This is why we are hosting an Apartheid-Free Communities gathering in Philadelphia on December 6 – 8. This gathering will be an important time to deepen our relationships, strengthen our network, and engage in post-election analysis. Stay tuned for more information and contact us if you are interested in helping organize our gathering!
Stories from the Apartheid-Free Community
Israel’s Progression from Apartheid to Genocide By Yousef Aljamal
“There is a massive pro-Palestine movement growing across the globe, both in the streets and in the halls of power. People are finding creative and courageous ways to express their solidarity with Gaza. But the situation is urgent; Palestinians don’t have the luxury of time, as each day brings more death and destruction… The millions of people now calling for a ceasefire should join in the longer-term efforts to dismantle Israeli apartheid and build a society where all can live with dignity and respect. Just as so many people took action against apartheid in South Africa, we must redouble our efforts to end apartheid and genocide in Gaza.”
Upcoming Actions and Events from the A-F Community
Christians for a Free Palestine Interfaith Action for Palestine Info Call
Wednesday, July 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Christians for a Free Palestine is preparing an action to counter CUFI, the largest pro-Israel organization in the country and to disrupt Christian Nationalism in Washington DC, July 28-30! Join this upcoming info call to learn more about the Christians for a Free Palestine coalition.
Community Peacemaker Teams: Summer Reading Circle
Saturday July 6, 13, 20, 27 at 1 p.m. ET
Community Peacemaker Teams is hosting an online summer reading circle. We will be reading Angela Davis’s Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the foundations of a movement. Learn more and sign up here.
Stones Cry Out Virtual Delegation: “Maintaining the Momentum, Mobilizing for Change
Wednesday Jul 31, 2024 1 p.m. ET
Throughout the summer, Stones Cry Out is offering a series of webinars as part of a Virtual Delegation, focused on equipping, mobilizing, and empowering a broad spectrum of faith leaders for advocacy. The capstone for and culmination of these summer webinars will be a September 23-27, Washington D.C. gathering of church leaders and human rights activists, there to speak out to the Biden Administration and Congress, through witness, worship, advocacy, and direct action. The goal is to change U.S. policy on Palestine and Israel. Learn more here. Allison Tanner, the Apartheid-Free Communities National Organizer will be featured as a guest speaker at the July 31st Stones Cry Out webinar, along with interfaith leaders Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and Ranwa Hammamy. Register here.
Protest Netanyahu from Addressing Congress
Take Action
Rev. Alex Awad, Pastor Emeritus of East Jerusalem Baptist Church, composed the following letter in response to congressional leadership’s shameful invitation forof Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, charged with war crimes, including plausible genocide, to speak before Congress. Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) and the Palestinian Christians Alliance for Peace (PCAP) invite you to use this link to adapt and share the following demand with your own members of Congress. Contact Congress Now.
Oppose the Apartheid Road in Wadi Foquin
Take Action
Friends of Wadi Foquin is currently opposing an apartheid road which would destroy 1000 trees and confiscate land belonging to farmers in the West Bank village of Wadi Foquin. If approved the road would expand the existing apartheid transportation infrastructure and privilege the residents of illegal settlements. A court hearing was convened by the Israeli Civil Administration on May 20,2024 in Jerusalem to discuss the proposed road. Another hearing was scheduled for June 16, 2024, but has been postponed with the new date to be determined. We are inviting individuals and organizations to sign on to a letter to the Israeli Civil Administration opposing the road. Please sign on through this link, and circulate to members of your congregations and organizations.
Recent Community Events
Israeli Apartheid In the News
Calls for divestment from apartheid South Africa gave today’s pro-Palestinian student activists a blueprint to follow “After two years of sustained militant organizing and demonstrations, the student anti-apartheid movement [in the 80s] claimed to have gotten colleges and universities to divest about $3.6 billion — or $10.3 billion in today’s dollars — from their endowments… Time will tell whether today’s students can do the same with regards to Israel’s systematic oppression of the Palestinian people.”
– Amanda Joyce Hall
United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Network, “It’s Past Time: Naming Israel’s Genocide in Gaza” “It is past time for all our political and religious leaders to recognize and name the atrocity in Gaza for the genocide that it is. We therefore urge all in positions of authority and influence to answer this call immediately. Millions of lives, as well as our very humanity, are at stake.” – UCC PIN
- Tribune, Israel’s war of vengeance — apartheid to ethnic cleansing
- Mondoweiss, “United Methodist Church votes to divest from Israel bonds”
- Unitarian Universalists Palestine Action, “Unitarian Universalists call for an end to the war on Gaza, U.S. complicity in that war“
- The Crimson, “Is Israel an Apartheid State?”
- Jacobin, “Student Divestment Campaigns Can Work”
Upcoming Dates for Organizing
The following holidays and events provide us with opportunities to organize actions. While we have listed many dates, feel free create an event around the holidays that best align with your community. Visit our Take Action page for ideas and inspiration on how you can take action for Palestine and live into the Apartheid-Free Pledge.
- American Independence Day: Thurs, July 4
- ☪️ The Islamic New Year, Hijri New Year: Mon, July 8
- 🇵🇸 10th Anniversary of the 2014 war on Gaza: Mon, July 8
- World Population Day: Thurs, July 11
- ☪️ Ashura: Evening of Tue, July 16 – Wed, July 17
- Nelson Mandala International Day: July 18
Apartheid-Free Continues to Grow
As of June 1, 356 communities have signed the pledge! Welcome to Apartheid-Free! Shout out to our new members who joined last month:
- Urbana-Champaign Friends Meeting
- Northside Friends Meeting Committee for Ministry on Racism
- Vital Immigrant Defense and Advocacy Services
- Espacio Migrante
- Voices for Justice in Palestine
- Syracuse Peace Council
- DIA Kollektiv
- The Parks Agency
- Gifted Treasures by Deniece
- Veterans For Peace Chapter 14
- Mauna Ikena Farm
- Three Birds Counseling, LLC
- Americans For Middle East Understanding
- Trinity Grace United Church
- First United Presbyterian Church of Crafton Heights
- Faith Strategies
- Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, Friends Meeting
- Circle of Hope
- The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain
- Mindfulosophy
Is your community, congregation, or solidarity organization actively fighting against racism, bigotry, and apartheid? If so, join the movement by signing the Apartheid-Free pledge – a powerful statement of dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable society.