Sacramento Rally Honors the Memory of Slain Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Sacramento: About 100 people gathered at the California State Capitol on Friday May 13, 2022, to condemn the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh at the Jenin Refugee Camp in the West Bank, Palestine. The event was organized by the Democrats for Justice in Palestine, Palestine American League (PAL), Jewish Voice for Peace Sacramento and the Sunrise Movement, Sacramento.
There were several speakers including Murad “Moe” Sarama, President, Democrats for Justice in Palestine; Yassar Dahbour, Chairman, Arab American Caucus of the California Democratic Party; Adeeb Alzanoon, Chairman, Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinians Rights; David Mandel, Jewish Voice for Peace; Seth Strumwasser, Democratic Socialist of America (DSA Sacramento); Josh Kaizuka, Florin Japanese American Citizens League; Omar Altamimi, Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR Sacramento Valley, Steve of the ANSWER Coalition; and CT Weber, Peace and Freedom Party.
While the speakers universally condemned the killing of Shireen, a brilliant journalist who had worked for Al Jazeera for about 25 years and was a household name within the Arab-Palestinian Diaspora, they called for action from Washington to at least try to honestly address the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Many in the rally were teary eyed as a moment of silence was observed in Shireen’s memory. A Palestinian Arab American from a Christian family, Shireen served the worldwide Palestinian cause by reporting the truth. It appears some did not like that revelation and targeted her and another journalist (who was also shot but survived) on May 11, 2022, in Jenin. The final report on this killing has not been received as of this writing.
Who killed Shireen? There will be claims and counterclaims. But one thing is for sure. The Arab-Israeli conflict killed her. And while the local mainstream media chose to ignore this rally and was out looking for more important things like a Turnip Festival or something to cover (the sarcasm is real), a reminder to them is in order that a journalist who was also an American Citizen was murdered. Another truth is that this conflict is not going to resolve itself. Tragedies like this one will continue. So let us at least try and show some fairness in media coverage.
Why did some like this writer make it a point to attend? I talked with another person who was also there to show sadness for this loss to the Palestinian, Arab American, and yes, the world community. Shireen was just doing her job, serving humanity, giving media coverage in the field. She was not promoting violence but exposing it. We just had to be there to honor her memory. The name Shireen means sweetness in our language. Her sweetness has now been forever included in the tragic soil and soul of Palestine.
