Why none of us are free until Palestine is free

Today is the 4th of July, a holiday here in America where we are supposed to celebrate our freedom and independence.

It used to be one of my favorite holidays. A time to revel in the joys of summer; corn on the cob, the pleasure of ice cream in the warm sunshine, Americana music and the smell of freshly cut grass. Feeling proud to be an American while reflecting on the price of freedom, and basking in gratitude to live in such an amazing place.

But this year, as with last year, I feel entirely different.

My view of my beloved country is forever altered, and with that change, my heart feels so heavy.

Since the events of October 7th, 2023, I have been witnessing a genocide unfold. Watching it in real time on my phone; an unprecedented horror in the modern age.

I go into more detail of how this has transformed me, in this article entitled “Will you answer the call to peace?”

In the last 21 months, I have personally watched thousands of videos regarding the situation in Palestine. Not the lies of mainstream media, but raw, real documentation. An endless stream of first-hand footage from Gaza and the West Bank - showing in real time, the horrific atrocities being committed against innocent men, women, and children.

Not just war crimes, but crimes against humanity; being carried out by the so-called Israeli military or what I now refer to as the ITF (Israeli Terrorist Forces). Funded by AIPAC, the United States, and other Western governments.

The anger and heartbreak I feel over the situation is beyond my ability to express.

To see our government actively participate in this genocide and then label Palestinian resistance as terrorists, all while celebrating this nation’s founding through violent armed resistance, is mind-boggling. The hypocrisy is staggering. And it doesn’t end there.