As a long-time organizer I want to highlight some of the incredible organizing that is happening with students all over the country in solidarity with Palestine.
First, keeping the center on Palestinians and Palestine. Recall during 2020, how the first response to BLM was to try to decenter Black people and how dangerous that was for very people many claimed to want to support.
Second, acknowledging that the very land we are upon is part of the theft, which means we also play a role in colonialism and ongoing oppression.
Third, leaving room for the reality that we are all impacted by oppression, and thus have to all unlearn harmful responses and patterns.
Fourth, nurturing growth and community through political education, community building, and clear goals and expectations.
Fifth cultural organizing with dancing, music, readings, poetry, song. Because they understand that cultural organizing is critical.
Sixth, creating respectful room for prayer and faith practices.
Seventh, cross-community coalition building with other students from other institutions but alum, faculty, staff, and also community members far and wide.
Eight, processes to bear witness, through such actions as voting.
There are so many other examples, and those are just a few.
When people talk about liberation, they often leave out the organizing component, which to me is the most important piece in anything that we would be able to consider revolution or liberation.
Organizing itself can be liberatory and revelatory. Organizing is what we base movement upon, and what helps us heal ourselves and move forward too. Pay attention to everything that is happening on the way too.
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