The New York State Youth Leadership Council stands in solidarity with Palestine
The New York State Youth Leadership Council stands in solidarity with Palestine. As an immigrant rights organization, we believe in the mobility and fight for liberation, freedom, and self-determination of Palestinian people. The agenda of this apartheid regime has remained the same since 1948, to systematically remove Palestinians from their homelands through ethnic cleansing. For 75 years, Palestinians have fought for the Right to Return. We are against border enforcement of any kind. We are against genocide, white supremacy, and the militarized settler, apartheid state of Israel that seeks to annihilate Palestine.
We are outraged with the murder of Palestinian lives. It has been 18 days of bombing in Gaza. We call for the protection of all Palestinian lives, including men, women, and children. While the murder of women, especially children is horrifying, we want to avoid unconsciously contributing to racist and Islamophobic tropes of Muslim and Arab men. All Palestinians should be allowed to live. All Palestinians are innocent under the occupation from the colonizer state of Israel. Negating this concept allows Israel to make excuses for their genocidal actions, to redirect focus and to continue controlling the global narrative.
October 23 has been the deadliest day since October 7, with a Palestinian death toll of 700, during an overnight Israeli attack. As of October 25, 2023, it is estimated that 6,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israel. They have cut off water, food, medical aid, and have prevented international aid from entering Gaza. We are outraged by the role of the United States government in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through our taxes and government spending. We do not support the ongoing pro-zionist propaganda out of the NYC Mayor's office, the New York State government, and CUNY system. We should not condemn Palestinian resistance under occupation. The U.S. is hypocritical in the continued support of Israel’s persistent violence against Palestinians, before October 7 and beyond.
We take this moment to recognize the millions of Palestinian refugees, asylees and undocumented immigrants around the world and share feelings of rage and grief.
We demand a ceasefire in Gaza and the end of the occupation of Palestine.
From the river to sea, Palestine will be free. Within our lifetimes
How this impacts us all locally:
Islamophobia and hate crimes in our communities
CUNY supports Israel’s tactic to sanitize their image and engage in global propaganda by hosting tours to Israel.
CUNY then doubled down with their support of Israel’s Zionism with a campus-wide statement on 10/11/2023.
Globally:
Politicians are exploiting this crisis to push for more extreme immigration laws and policies, calling for deportations of pro-Palestine activists, a renewed Muslim ban, and stricter enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Corporations involved in the prison industrial complex are invested in both the Israel apartheid and the “security” measures against immigrants around the world and (see pages 63-64 and read more here)
Israel has fueled displacement by supporting repressive governments in Latin America.
Actions we can take:
Attend our Palestine discussion on 10/26 at 6pm sign up here
Sign on and support: The Urgent Demand to Hold Adjunct Professor Tamy Ben-Tor Accountable
Sign on statement: CUNY Stands with Palestine
Raise awareness about: The AAANY: Safe Haven Project
