To all the people who have decided to not speak up for Palestine and the 34,000 innocent Palestinians who have suffered and died, how has that decision gone? Does the world feel safer, or is it spiraling at a greater rate toward chaos?
Those who are silent on issues regarding humanity have sold themselves to capitalism and the fear of losing validation for speaking out, motivates them into their silence. Focusing on a sports team, television show, musician, or fashion will not keep the world from reaching the people that fear the most and have jammed their head in the sand. You cannot drown out the world with distractions.
Seeing college students violently arrested has some thinking that their choice of silence was correct because that could be them assaulted by police and sent to jail. What they fail to realize is that anyone can be arrested just like those innocent students who are peacefully protesting have done nothing. Those who remain silent on human rights think that if they avoid the topics all together, they will somehow remain safe. No one is safe if students who are protesting and not attacking anyone are jailed. Even members of the press are being arrested for simply recording the protests.
Those who are silent are too scared to admit this truth. They would rather spend their days analyzing a sports play for teams full of misogynists, praising shows that fund corporations and exploits artists, or supporting musicians that are created by labels.
What happens is that these people who refuse to address the world that is on fire around them, they will be engulfed in the fire and swear they never saw the inferno coming. Unlike those who are voicing their support for Palestine, human rights, and woman’s rights that are all under siege, those using their voice can see that inferno coming and take action to put out those flames instead of falling victim to them.
The student protesters across the US are an example to all of us of what humanity looks like. They are embodying their principles. They are showing this world what it looks like to uphold and protect our rights. The fact that they are not backing down in the face of violence from police and threats from police and universities, makes them all the more admirable.
If you look at the student protesters and you use that as justification for your silence, you have missed the plot completely. These students know what they are up against, and unlike those who are choosing to be silent, they are amplifying their voice for Palestine.
We need this energy for all the threats against our rights. We need this energy to protect a woman’s right to an abortion. We need this energy to free all of the people under threat of oppression not just in Palestine but in Sudan, DRC, Haiti, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs. We need this energy to protect our environment. We need this energy to overhaul our governmental power structures.
For the people who have not voiced their support for Palestine and have given into fear, the oppressors will always come for the willing and the silent first because there is no dissent or opposition given to them from these people. Giving up on one’s humanity out of fear carries a huge price.
Each day there is more and more news of governments around the world that are restricting or abolishing the rights of their people. More of our rights will be lost and the silent will do what the oppressors ask of them and silently hand over their rights so they can keep watching their game, tv show, movie, or consume products.
Silence means complicity. Silence means conformity. Silence means oppression.
Speak up. Speak out. Humanity is on the line. Our rights are on the line.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
Protest
BE UNGOVERNABLE
Disrupt everything
Boycott
Vote 3rd party
Donate
Demand sanctions and embargoes for Israel, US, UK, Germany, France, Australia, UAE, Russia, RSF, SAF, M23, and Rwanda.
Please extend your energy to other countries and people facing atrocities and genocide in Sudan, DRC, Haiti, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.
Articles for reference. Please read and share.
Reuters: Gaza protests grow at US colleges, thousands demonstrate in Brooklyn
ACLU: ACLU Statement on Congress’ Latest Attempt to Ban TikTok and Restrict Free Speech Online
The Guardian: Photojournalist among 20 people arrested at UT Austin campus protest *This article incorrectly claims that police and protesters clashed. The police violent attacked and arrested protesters. There are no articles explaining the violence that protesters are facing from police.