Yesterday 3 young men, Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ali, and Kinnan Abdulhamid, proudly wearing kuffiyahs and speaking in Arabic as they made their way to a family dinner, were shot in the back for the simple reason of being Palestinian.  This is the latest in a series of escalating harassment and attacks against Arab and Muslim people across the United States that is being instigated by the White House, mainstream media, and universities, all of which have supported the US-backed genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and condemned the movement in solidarity with Palestine.  

While US-made weapons have bombarded the people of Gaza for the past 51 days, the Biden administration, politicians at all federal and state levels, the mainstream media, and universities, have all attempted to repress the genuine and massive movement for Palestine that is only continuing to strengthen. Their negligence, institutionalized racism, and repressive tactics have cleared the way for escalating hate crimes. While the investigation of the shooter is still underway, we hold the Biden administration, the mainstream media, and all right-wing and pro-Israel institutions responsible for the shooting of these three young Palestinians.

The growing movement for Palestine is threatening the legitimacy of the US’s unconditional support for Israel.  We will not be intimidated and we will not be silenced. We will continue to stand in firm solidarity with the Palestinian people and their fight for liberation. 

The Shut it Down for Palestine coalition calls on all people of conscience to demonstrate their solidarity with Hisham, Tahseen and Kenan. Wear a kuffiyah everywhere you go. Organize actions and mobilizations, and join us and people across the world on November 29, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Together we are turning the tide of history.