Tag: poetry

  • REFUSAL IN THE GENOCIDE

    https://resist.bot/petitions/PYNWUF

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    2/28 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

    I ask you read and reflect on the poem written by Omar Sakr about Aaron Bushnell’s self-immolation to protest the ongoing genocide Israel is committing against Palestinians.

    “Refusal in the genocide
    by Omar Sakr


    He walked to the gate
    Accelerant in hand.
    I can’t make this beautiful
    I hope you understand.
    His voice was clear.
    He tried to light
    The spark of his life
    Several times.
    I’m stuck on his fingers
    On the catch
    On the flash
    On the free
    On Falastin
    Screaming
    I don’t need a poem
    I need a fire extinguisher

    But oh god
    Nothing can quench this light.”

    I demand that you: 

    – Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire

    – Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace

    – Hold Israel accountable for their violations of the Genocide Convention and all other international laws by any means necessary

    – Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7

    – Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce Leahy Law

    – Reallocate all funds given to Israel and commit additional resources for ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians starting with immediately resume funding of UNRWA

    – Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict

    – Pass legislation that voids all anti-BDS laws at the federal level

    – Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet

    SOURCES

    Aaron Bushnell*

    The New York Times “A man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, the police said.

    CNN “US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in Washington

    The Guardian “US airman who burned himself to death at Israeli embassy had anarchist ties

    Wikipedia “Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell

    X Post 2/26/24 Poem “Refusal in the genocide” by Omar Sakr @omarsakrpoet

    Middle East Eye “Vigil for Aaron Bushnell held outside Israeli embassy in DC

    DailyMail “Haunting final text of air man, 25, who burned himself to death outside DC Israeli Embassy – as it’s revealed he grew up in CULT

    Truth Out “We Must Resist Any Erasure of Why Aaron Bushnell’s Young Life Came to an End

    Empire Files “Tribute to Aaron Bushnell by Iraq Veteran Mike Prysner

    **CONTENT WARNING**

    These posts contain graphic imagery of Aaron’s self-immolation.

    Mossad Commentary @MOSSADil is not an official account, but is being linked to as how the Israeli public and their supporters have responded to Aaron’s sacrifice.

    News Week “Fact Check: Did Mossad Celebrate Aaron Bushnell’s Self-Immolation?

    2/25/24 X Post by Mossad Commentary @MOSSADil sharing the entire video recording of Aaron’s self-immolation, with caption that reads “A US Air Force soldier lights himself up on fire to protest Israel. What an idiot”

    2/25/24 Deleted X Post by Mossad Commentary @MOSSADil sharing photo of Aaron on fire with caption that reads “Our enemies kill themselves.”

    *I am using a synced pattern in WordPress to copy & save these sources for future use, so it’s possible if you are viewing this after the date of this post there could be information included dated after.

  • What I fear the most…

    If you’re reading this, chances are you already know, but if for some reason you don’t- there are multiple genocides happening the moment I am writing this and the moment you’re reading this. Top of my mind and the minds of most is Palestine, but the crises and genocides occurring in Sudan, the Congo, Tigray, against the Uyghurs in China are co-occuring. None of this is new, unfortunately, but a rising consciousness of the magnitude of human suffering perpetuated by and for the service of power and how it’s truly connected is new. It’s a fragile thing, and the tangled web at the heart of it lies our tax dollars, consumerism, individualism, and settler-colonial structures designed to make the most profit.

    I have been aware of some of this for some time now, but the horrors of what has happened and is happening to the Palestinian people has completely tore my heart and mind open. Unfortunately complacency is easy and too many of us have fallen prey to it time and time again. I’m afraid it will happen again.

    I remember when the Occupy Wallstreet movement hit its peak right when I started my undergraduate studies. The retrospective suggests a lack of cohesion, inconsistent demands, and an overwhelmingly white representation. It lacked intersectionality and ultimately failed.

    What I fear the most is that despite all best efforts, even with the intersectionality of this movement, we will fail due to the extreme measures our government has undertaken to silence those demanding a ceasefire.

    This will not stop me, nor will I let my fears discourage me. When I first became educated I made a promise. I think it’s best shown in a poem I wrote on October 16th entitled “Witness”. I shared it on TikTok & included videos of what was happening in Gaza at the time: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8xDbRp1/

    “Witness”

    10/16/23

    I saw on the news today

    Names, faces, stories

    From the Israelis who were murdered

    I saw the world grieve for them

    My own heart, too, feels it

    But I wonder who will remember the nameless Palestinians

    I look for you everywhere, Gaza

    I search across social media

    To look into your eyes

    And witness

    I see your babies dying

    Your mother screaming in the street

    Because her husband was just killed

    I see your goodbyes posted online

    As the supply of everything needed to sustain life runs out

    I hear your voice as you ask me, brokenly

    To not stop talking about you

    To remember you

    To witness

    I promise you I will not forget

    Your face will haunt me forever

    And I welcome it