On May 18, the Islamic Center of San Diego security guard Amin Abdullah along with Mansour Kaziha, and Nader Awad lost their lives to two teenage gunman radicalized to hate people because of their faith. On May 14, The Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 boats set sail with international activists, attempting to bring life-saving aid to Palestinians trapped under Israel’s illegal siege. They were kidnapped in international waters and first hand accounts of detainees report Israeli forces proceeded to torture, sexually assault, beat and severely abuse the unarmed citizens of the world with impunity. Systemic hate, self-righteous supremacy, and nationalism underlie crimes against humanity like these, not borders, one bad influential leader, or a particular religion.
It is often argued that we can’t call out the U.S. backed Israel while our government engages in horrible things around the world. Yes, we must deal with ills caused in, and outside our own country. The U.S playbook is founded on extracting resources from its working class, its immigrants, and independent nations via force for its own capitalistic interests. Capitalism must cultivate racism and apartheid through carefully tended attitudes that justify that one should have more than another. Our society is not one of mutual care and acceptance; it is where division and obedience are cultivated. The U.S, and by default, you and I, are entangled in spreading systems of racism, oppression, and hate globally through U.S. military expansionist and imperialist pursuits.
But, no free rides for torture, genocide, and engineered starvation of the Palestinian people in Israel on the backs of U.S citizens just because we have work to do here. Working people, people of ethics and morality must battle systems of repression and vile attacks against humanity wherever it arises for the benefit of others and us. Belief in our potential to change our society and to take a collective stand for a real future for all is the key ingredient to change.
Wherever you live, vote for dismantling apartheid in the form of a municipal resolution, and organize to stop hate against your neighbors. Give no free rides to hate.
Heather Hutchinson
Leverett