Over 4000 participants have registered for this year’s second annual People’s Conference for Palestine, which took place in Detroit, Michigan, from August 19 to 31. Organized by a coalition of groups led by the Palestinian Youth Movement, and livestreamed by BreakThrough News, the conference carried the guiding principle of “Gaza is the compass.” The slogan reflected the centrality of Gaza and the ongoing Zionist occupation and genocide as the primary contradictions and points of struggle against US-Israeli imperialism.
Speakers at the conference included Dr. Ghassan Abu Sita, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader and former political prisoner Omar Assaf, Palestinian activist and former political prisoner Mahmoud Khalil, and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. The goal was to propel the movement for Palestine in the imperial core by sharpening the political analysis of attendees, strengthening their commitment to the cause and allowing them to connect with other organizations around North America.
This year’s conference saw the launch of the “AIPAC out of US Politics” campaign, which seeks to put an end to the influence of the Israeli lobby within American politics.
Last year's conference launched the Mask off Maersk campaign, initiated by the Palestinian Youth Movement to demand an arms embargo by exposing and targeting the Danish shipping giant’s complicity in transporting military cargo to Israel.
The plenary led by Palestinian Youth Movement organizer Aisha Nizar, Progressive International researcher Sacchin Padaga and Moroccan dockworker Ismail Lghazaoui reflected on the Mask Off Maersk campaign one year after its launch. They discussed how global efforts between researchers and workers continue to disrupt supply chains that funnel weapon components to the Zionist entity. The strategy behind targeting Maersk was that it served as a common denominator between the various arms manufacturers that would supply Israel, leading to a more precise and effective campaign. Research revealed that Maersk uses civilian infrastructure to ship military cargo, violating international law. (more...)
Highlights From the Second Annual People’s Conference for Palestine
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