A solemn atmosphere pervaded downtown Detroit on Saturday as hundreds gathered in front of the iconic Joe Louis Fist monument to mark a year of what they described as genocide against Palestinian people. Organized by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) and supported by activist groups, the protest drew attendees from across the region, many of whom have personal ties to ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank. At the heart of the demonstration was a sense of shared grief and frustration, particularly as the crowd reflected on more than 40,000 Palestinians killed and tens of thousands injured in the year since Israel launched its response to Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. That attack left over a thousand Israelis dead and hundreds taken hostage. For many Palestinians and IR supporters, the past year has been a time of unimaginable loss, compounded by what they see as the U.S. government’s continued support for Israeli military actions. Sahar Faraj, 31, a Palestinian-American from Detroit, addressed the crowd from atop the platform, with a banner reading “Resistance Until Liberation” draped behind her. She spoke about the heavy toll violence has taken on her community and her family members in the West Bank. “It’s heartbreak that our community feels and has felt for a yearlong, straight,” Faraj said. “It’s been very difficult to be able to focus on what we call ‘normal life’ here in the U.S. while we’re watching our families quite literally die before our eyes, or be murdered actually.” The mood was somber but resolute as demonstrators, with fists raised, vowed to continue resisting both Israeli policies and U.S. complicity in violence. Many, like Faraj, called for economic boycotts, urging people to research companies and products that support Israel’s actions and to “spend their money accordingly.” the crowd applauded her message and united in their determination to take tangible actions in support of Palestinian cause. The protest was marked by a variety of speakers, including local activist groups such as Detroit Will Breathe, an organization that gained prominence after the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Many speakers drew parallels between the struggle for racial justice in the U.S. and the Palestinian fight for liberation. The intersection of these movements resonated with attendees, who saw their causes as interconnected battles against oppression and state violence. Leading the crowd with a Palestinian flag in hand, Mohamed Almawri, 39, of Dearborn, has been a prominent voice in the local Palestinian community since violence in Gaza escalated a year ago. Almawri, who has organized multiple protests since then, said his goal is to bring attention to what he called “a genocide” unfolding in Gaza, while also urging the U.S. government to stop funding the Israeli military. “Just be part of the narrative that we’re trying to change over here, that we have a genocide going on and our government (is) being complicit in it,” Almawri said. He emphasized that protesters are asking for basic demands, such as an arms embargo against Israel, which would help to prevent further loss of life. As the protest continued, trucks and cars honked in solidarity with the crowd as they marched through the streets of Detroit. The gathering also highlighted broader political tensions in the U.S., with many demonstrators criticizing politicians who have supported military aid packages to Israel, including both Democrats and Republicans. Some attendees expressed frustration at what they see as a lack of meaningful action from the Biden administration, which has continued to provide military support to Israel. For protesters, the message was clear: they are committed to continuing their resistance until they see justice for the Palestinian people. As Faraj noted, the struggle has taken a heavy emotional toll, but gatherings like this one offer a brief respite, a moment of unity in the face of overwhelming grief. “It felt good to be together, to be united,” Faraj said. “We have to keep fighting, we have to keep speaking out — for our families, for our people.” As the protest dispersed, the commitment to liberation remained strong, with attendees vowing to continue their activism, their boycotts, and their calls for an end to U.S. complicity in violence. Many noted that while the past year has been devastating, the growing global movement for Palestinian rights offers a glimmer of hope.
Protesters Gather in Detroit to Mark a Year of Violence in Gaza, Call for End to U.S. Support for Israel
