Thousands Demonstrate in Washington, DC
In Washington DC thousands rallied in the heart of the U.S. capital on April 5 to oppose Trump administration attacks on free speech and student activism, and demand an end to Israel's relentless genocidal onslaught against Gaza. Students, organizers, journalists, artists, and workers came to Washington, DC from across the country to call for the release of pro-Palestine students such as Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk from ICE detention and to declare their fearlessness in the face of Trump's attacks.
The march was endorsed by over 200 organizations including the Palestine Youth Movement, the ANSWER Coalition, the People's Forum, Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, American Muslims for Palestine, and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
The crowd of thousands channeled their energy into a march through Washington, DC, stopping at the headquarters of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). "We are here to say that the fight for Palestine and the struggle for Palestinian liberation is united with the struggle for immigrant rights," said Layan Fuleihan, Education Director at the People's Forum and lead organizer with the Shut It Down For Palestine movement, addressing the crowd which had stopped outside of the ICE building. "We are here to send a clear message to Trump, to Rubio, to everyone inside this building, that when they attack one, and when they attack two, they have to face all of us. We are the majority."
Grant Miner, the president of Columbia's graduate student union, UAW Local 2710, used part of his speech to call out leaders in the Democratic Party for what he expressed was insufficient support for the cause of the student movement and the cause of Palestine. But workers and students should not rely on Democratic Party politicians, stated Miner. "If that's one thing that's been abundantly clear over the past month, it's that nobody, especially not these politicians, is coming to save us, but the good news is [that] we don't need anybody to save us," Miner said, addressing the crowd. "All we need is for the people to stand together and get organized and fight back! They can't run the country without us, but we sure as hell can run the country without them."
(Photos: Peoples Forum NY, BT News, PYM)
This article was published in
Volume 55 Number 6 - April 11, 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2025/Articles/TS55063.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca