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Kali Rogers
Rula Suffouri, a junior in business administration, participates in a rally against the Israeli assault of six ships, named the Freedom Flotilla, delivering aid to the Gaza Strip on June 4, 2010. "We participated in this protest in order to spread awareness to the local people about the Israeli's attack on the Turkish flotilla," said Suffouri. "There is no religion or culture that justifies these attacks against innocent people. We hope that this protest has brought awareness to this issue."
Approximately 40 protestors gathered at the intersection of Gorman Street and Western Boulevard Friday to picket the Israeli raid Monday that left nine dead and sparked an international outcry.
The group, led by the Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom, marched from the Islamic Center of Raleigh to the corner of campus, telling their plight to anyone who was listening. The group’s message was simple, evidenced by their chants of “stop the killing, stop the war” and “long live Palestine.”
Monday’s attack was against a boat traveling in international waters and carrying humanitarian supplies for Gaza.
*One of protestors leading the chants, said that living conditions in Palestine are “terrible” and that these issues are not addressed because of America’s alliance with Israel.
“Palestinians are under terrible conditions, and anyone can see that,” the protestor said. “America is always supporting Israel. We’re not the terrorists.”
“The media doesn’t show what we go through,” said the protestor. “It shouldn’t be about allies, it should be about what is right.”
It was MAS Freedom’s second rally in Raleigh. They try to hold protests near busy intersections in the downtown area. The group occupied the corner of campus for nearly four hours.
Nadeen Al-Ghandour, junior in undergraduate studies, said that when Israel makes these controversial actions, they frequently claim the act as self defense.
“I think it’s wrong to justify every event as self defense,” Al-Ghandour said. “[Palestinian’s] have no houses, nothing. They are born into war.”
Al-Ghandour also said in the past the state of Palestine has been a low priority for Americans but she hopes with the recent events, there will be more awareness from the general public.
“People have kept it as a low priority,” Al-Ghandour said. “But these recent events have provoked an international issue.”
*Editor’s Note: The protestors name was removed by request on 5/3/2020.