Join the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine (Al-Nahda Community Center, American Muslims for Palestine, Palestinian American Community Center, Palestinian American Council, Students for Justice in Palestine [SJP]-Chicago, and U.S. Palestinian Community Network [USPCN]) and Jewish Voice for Peace as we protest the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)-Chicago Annual Event Thursday, May 30th, 2019, at 5 PM at the Hyatt Regency – downtown Chicago at 151 E. Wacker Drive.
AIPAC, a major arm of the Israel Lobby, is the main advocate in the U.S. for Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestine and other human rights violations against the Palestinian people, but its most recent and unequivocal support for Netanyahu’s ultra-right government has reinforced its reputation as a racist, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim force influencing the U.S. Congress.
AIPAC also plays a major role in building Congressional support for Trump and Kushner’s ridiculous Deal of the Century “peace plan,” for Trump’s unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, respectively, and for anti-BDS legislation on both federal and state levels – statutes used to silence critics of Israeli policies by putting Israel first and free speech and the right to boycott last.
Recently, U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Black Somali Muslim refugee, publicly criticized AIPAC, raising awareness of the negative influence it has on the U.S. government. Because of her bravery in challenging AIPAC, and by extension, Israel, she was falsely accused of anti-Semitism, and continues to face vicious, racist, and Islamophobic backlash, including death threats.
AIPAC is a supporter of the rabidly racist administrations in both Israel and the U.S. It aids in the violations of Palestinian human, civil, and national rights (both here and in Palestine), and we are going to make clear to AIPAC and its supporters on May 30th that they are not welcome in our city!