PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Saturday, October 5, 2024; Cleveland Mobilization against Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, Jefferson Park, W. 132^nd & Lorain Avenue: A woman holds up a sign that says, “You cannot build a Holy Land on the mass graves of children.”

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Saturday, October 5, 2024; Cleveland Mobilization against Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon: Protesters march down Lorain Avenue from W. 118^th to W. 132^nd.

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Saturday, October 5, 2024; Cleveland Mobilization against Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, Public parking area across from the Variety Theater at W. 118^th and Lorain Avenue. Protesters “stand with Palestine”.

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Saturday, October 5, 2024; Cleveland Mobilization against Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon: Protesters marching down Lorain Avenue from W. 118^th to W. 132^nd display a “Free Palestine” sign.

by Chuck Hoven

   (Plain Press November 2024) On October 5^th, Clevelanders joined millions of people across the world in mobilizing against Israel’s aggression in Palestine and Lebanon. Over 500 people gathered in the public parking area across from the Variety Theater at W. 118^th and Lorain Avenue in an area known as “Little Arabia.” A statement from the Palestinian Youth Movement said the rally was to protest “the violence, aggression and genocide perpetrated by the Israeli government against the people of Palestine and Lebanon.”

   Those in attendance donned signs and wore t-shirts with messages. The flags of Palestine and Lebanon waved in the air. Speeches from members of the Palestinian Youth Movement, the United States Palestinian Community Network and the Cleveland Palestinian Advocacy Community told of the devastating conditions in Gaza. Some spoke of their own relatives who have been killed or displaced because of the brutal aggression of Israel’s military.

   The Palestinian Youth Movement, which organized the event, said the devastation in Gaza is such that it is impossible to account for all those that have been killed. While official body counts say that over 40,000 people have been killed, they say some medical researchers estimate Israel has killed over 186,000 people in Gaza since October 7^th of 2023. The statement says, “Israel has also displaced over 1,900,000 Palestinians, 90% of Gaza’s entire population. Projections estimate that, as of September 2024, 96% of Palestinians in Gaza will be facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger due to Israel’s forced starvation, with 100% of the population facing some degree of food insecurity.”

   Literature passed out at the rally called for those present to petition the Cuyahoga County government to stop investing $16 million in Israel bonds. Another message called for withholding votes for Democratic candidates to pressure the Biden/Harris administration to deliver an arms embargo on Israel and a permanent ceasefire.

   Palestinian Youth Movement Organizer Chance Zurub led the crowd in chants such as “Up with Liberation, down with occupation”; “1,2,3,4 – Occupation no more, 5,6,7,8 Stop the killing, stop the hate”; “No more money for Israel’s crime, not another nickel, not another dime”; and “Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids have you killed today?”

   Signs donned my members of the crowd included, “Gaza resists, Gaza remains”; “Hands off Lebanon”; “Free Palestine”; “Jews against Zionism”; “Jews Say Ceasefire now”; “You cannot build a Holyland on the mass graves of children;” “Free Palestine”; “Glory to our martyrs”; and “Stop the killing, stop the hate, vote out the apartheid state.”

   Children carried a sign that said, “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” One child donned a t-shirt that said “Straight Outta Palestine.”

   Many of the t-shirts visible in the crowd contained Palestinian or Lebanese flags. Two veterans were sighted with t-shirts saying, “Veterans demand ceasefire.”

   Following the speeches, the crowd marched down Lorain Avenue to Jefferson Park at W. 132^nd and Lorain where the crowd listened to more speakers.

   In one speech, Palestinian Youth Movement Organizer Yousef Khalaf said the crowd gathered for the protest was a demonstration of the power of those that opposed United States funding of weapons Israel is using to kill civilians in Gaza. He said those in the crowd were “living in the belly of the beast” and were “privileged.” He called upon them to “use this privilege for good.” He talked about the need to stop the funding of weapons used to kill civilians and urged privileged Americans “to opt to fight this fight for all oppressed people worldwide.”

   Following the speeches at Jefferson Park, the protesters marched back down Lorain Avenue to where the rally began about three and a half hours earlier.