New Orleans Palestinians lead downtown solidarity march

New Orleans, LA- On October 15, around 250 protesters in New Orleans gathered at the Hale-Boggs Federal Building, waving Palestinian flags and signs in solidarity. With heavy downtown foot traffic surrounding them, they yelled chants like “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!”

Palestinian community members led the way as the rally turned into an impassioned and colorful march. Volunteers drove trucks at the front and back of the march. Protesters stood on them tall, waving dozens of flags and signs. Chant leaders encouraged the crowd to “Lose your voices tonight, so that our people may hear us in Gaza!”

The march was co-hosted by a number of community organizations. Toni Jones from New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police told the crowd, “I am here tonight to reaffirm the decades long solidarity between the Black liberation struggle and the Palestinian national liberation movement. When many nationalities come together in solidarity as we have tonight, our liberation movements become stronger!”

A’ishah Abdalah from Students for Justice in Palestine at University of New Orleans said, “Our people have been brutalized for over 75 years and Palestinians are expected to take it, but we will never just sit down and take it!”

The crowd shut down busy downtown traffic for blocks, passing many supportive festival and football fan onlookers. The march went from the local federal building to the famous Jackson Square on the Mississippi River. There was an open mic where community members were invited to express their grief and rage as the world watches Israel commit inhumane crimes against the people of Gaza.

Quest Riggs of Freedom Road Socialist Organization told the crowd, “We who believe in justice for Palestine must be the first to expose the constant Israeli lies and hit the streets in support of Palestinian resistance. Israel is the one who has made the so-called two-state solution impossible with the constant brutality of its occupation.”

The crowd marched back to their starting location. The police were forced to close some of the busiest New Orleans thoroughfares during rush hour because of the size and unity of the pro-Palestinian crowd.

#NewOrleansLA #Palestine #SJP #FRSO #NOCOP