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How to respond to "but supporting Palestine is too controversial"
Shades of Anger, May 5, 2024
Kay Coughlin
May 05, 2024
May 5, 2024
Good morning! Important reminder: YOUR voice speaking up on behalf of Palestine - and oppressed people everywhere - matters.
LEARN. Read this article by Palestinian American children’s book author Hannah Moushabeck, winner of several literary awards, including the New England Book Award. In the article, she recounts her response to an event organizer who cancelled her planned visit for fear of making “Jewish parents felt uncomfortable about our plan to highlight a Palestinian voice.”
Image credit: Hannah Moushabeck. Image description: Hannah Moushabeck receiving the New England Book Award, with her aunt and uncle standing on either side of her. Hannah is smiling, wearing a traditional Palestinian headband in red, with coins hanging over her forehead; and she is also wearing a keffiyeh like a stole over her shoulders, and she is holding an award in a black frame. Her aunt and uncle are smiling and are wearing business attire.
NOTICE. What do you feel when someone says to you, “But talking about Palestine will make people uncomfortable”? How can you remember and use Ms. Moushabeck’s response to better prepare you for those conversations?
ACT. Bookmark Ms. Moushabeck’s article, or print it out, or do whatever you need to do to re-read it again and remember you have it available to you as a resource. Bonus action: support Ms. Moushabeck by reading and purchasing her book, Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine.
SHARE. Right now, send this email to at least 3 people you know who might need to prepare themselves to have a conversation about their right to support Palestine. Bonus share: send this email to librarians you know, tell them you support them, and offer to stand with them the next time somebody challenges a book or program at their library.
ASK. What additional resources do you need to help you speak out for Palestine? Reply to this email to let us know.
In solidarity for liberation for Palestine,
Kay Coughlin, on behalf of the Shades of Anger collective
P.S. Please join us for one of our free weekly community sessions. Register here.
Shades of Anger was created by a global collective of women to raise awareness and inspire action to free Palestine. We also believe in liberation for Sudan, the Congo, Haiti, and all places where systems of oppression are causing immense suffering and crushing the life out humans. We are led by women of the Global Majority/BIPOC. Shades of Anger is for everyone who wants to act for liberation and you can learn more about it here.
Image: On the left side is an off-white background with text in black that reads, “Shades of Anger; ‘Palestinians do not know the word impossible’ - Fatima Bernawi; So why should we?” On the right is an image of people gathering by a wall under a sign that reads, “Amplify your voice”
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