Sacramento Rally Calls for Peace and End to Occupation in Palestine
By Ras H. Siddiqui

A sizeable number of people from diverse backgrounds held a rally in Sacramento, California on October 14, 2023, to voice support for the Palestinian people, especially those currently under siege in Gaza. The protesters populated the four corners of the intersection of 16 th & J Street carrying banners and Palestinian flags. They also listened to speeches by local leaders and activists belonging to various groups. Endorsers of this event included the ANSWER organization. Left Wing, Student and Palestinian groups including the Palestine American League (PAL), and not to be left out, the Jewish Voice for Peace Sacramento.

October 7, 2023, will go down in history as a dark day in the history of Israel-Palestine relations which also extend outwards to the worldwide Jewish-Muslim relationship. Within a week of the attack inside Israel by Hamas, Israel has responded, and the global media has rightly condemned the killing of innocent people. But before one delves into this long-standing conflict, there is also some condemnation brewing in the western world of the Israeli response which also includes the killing of innocent people.    

It would have been very easy to skip this protest as there was also a Cricket tournament being held in town. But amongst the people at the rally were some old friends who have been directly and devastatingly impacted. Br Adeeb Alzanoon of PAL and local Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Executive Director Br Basim El Karra are just two of many who were here.

This writer has known both Adeeb and Basim for a long time, and on seeing them this time it appeared that they had suddenly aged several years since we had last seen them just a few months ago. This tragedy is devastating many lives. Brother Basim whose family is from Gaza, was continuously checking his cell phone at this rally to hear about displacement and casualties within his extended family. Yes, this new Gaza war (there have been many before) is killing innocents including women and children on both sides.

All the speakers here called for the end of the Occupation and a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The crowd raised slogans including “End, end the Occupation” and “Free, free Palestine”  along with “No justice, no peace.” They also called out for fairness towards the Palestinian people and for putting an end to this war.  Lest we forget, the Palestinians are the long-suffering people in this conflict. And they love their children too.