As a health care researcher specializing in traumatic injury, I see hospital patients with burns, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Over the last eight months, I have felt so much moral horror and sadness that US bombs, funded by my tax dollars, are dropping on Palestinians and causing these very injuries. More than one thousand children have lost limbs. Fathers have suffered traumatic brain injuries from bombs exploding and buildings collapsing. Mothers have burns over their entire body. It is too much to witness.
I feel powerlessness and cognitive dissonance; while I am at work caring for patients and researching how to prevent traumatic injuries, US tax dollars and weapons are causing those very same traumatic injuries in Palestine. The scale of traumatic injury and disability resulting from US weapons and funds to Israel is overwhelming, alongside the fact that the Israeli military has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in what the International Criminal Court calls a “plausible” case of genocide.
Many people, including myself, feel powerless to curb the US’s role in facilitating violence in Palestine. We sign petitions. We march in the streets. We block roads. We start encampments on university campuses. We call our senators. Nothing changes. The weapons and money keep flowing.
I assume we’re used to this–political representatives acting in ways we don’t like, or even in ways we deplore. That is not new. However, the next stop doesn’t have to be political apathy. Instead, it is an invitation to build collective power. You can start small. Small actions can accumulate and motivate others; each small individual or group action is us running our section of the relay, passing the baton to the next person or group. Maybe this small action will motivate that next person to join a protest, learn more about the issues, and get active.
That’s why on Saturday, June 1, 2024, I disrupted Vice President Kamala Harris’s Seattle fundraiser by standing up in the middle of the event and asking her, “When will you stop sending weapons to Israel?”
I participated in this disruption for four reasons. First, Vice President Harris is second in command below the President. Wherever she goes, we need to remind her that many US voters are horrified by US weapons and funds facilitating violence in Palestine. Currently, 70% of likely voters support a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza, and the plurality think we should decrease military aid to Israel.
Second, I hoped my question would continue shining a light on the Biden administration’s equivocations about when they will stop sending weapons to Israel. For example, the Israeli military recently dropped US-made, Boeing bombs on a refugee camp in Rafah. The “tent massacre” killed 45 people and injured more than 200. In early May, President Biden said, “If they [Israeli military] go into Rafah, I’m not going to be supplying the weapons.” However, the Biden administration is now backpedaling and claiming that the current invasion into Rafah is a “limited” operation, not an “all-out assault.” I believe the Biden administration is posturing and has no intent of stopping military funds or weapons shipments to Israel.
Third, I wondered if Vice President Harris would say something on the record. Maybe something concrete that would get attention and force more internal conflict or dialogue within the Biden administration. But, alas, as a seasoned politician, she just said, “Thank you, I am speaking now.”
Finally, I knew that disrupting this speech was not on its own going to change Vice President Harris’s views or behavior in relation to the violence in Palestine. But I thought that maybe you would change. Vice President Harris was the main event, and you were the audience. We captured a short video of the disruption, hoping it would get a few thousand views. The Instagram video reached ~224,000 accounts and was viewed ~469,000 times. I was shocked. More importantly, I felt affirmed–that many people saw our action, which means they are thinking about what’s happening in Palestine. Maybe this action was the baton pass that someone else needed.
And to be clear, I am not a seasoned activist. You could do this. You could do this, and we did this (another person participated in the disruption with me) because we did it as a team. Our team spent hours prepping: talking through the plan, assessing risks, studying similar events in other parts of the country, practicing getting booed (because we expected that from other attendees), preparing press releases, preparing jail support in the unlikely event we were arrested, and more. This was not an impulsive solo event. I am emphasizing this because there is a role for everyone. Consider this your invitation. It is only through collective action and organizing that we can build the world we want and stop the violence perpetrated by our elected representatives.
Some voters are concerned that protesting the Biden administration like we did will increase the likelihood of a Trump presidency: younger voters in swing states may be swayed not to vote for Biden, leading to a Trump presidency, which would be worse for US civil rights and for Palestinians. My response: I hear and understand the very real fear of another Trump presidency. I am not naive about that risk, AND we still need to speak out when the current US administration is facilitating unthinkable violence in Palestine, or any country.
Additionally, if the Biden administration loses the 2024 election, it will be because the Democratic party failed to deliver policies and actions that voters wanted. Let’s not blame progressives for the Democratic party’s losses. If the Democratic party can’t win elections, it’s because they’re not doing a good job listening to voters. For instance, the violence in Palestine is not a fringe progressive issue. In the presidential primary, hundreds of thousands of Democrats—including those in key swing states like Michigan—voted “undecided” or “uncommitted” to protest the Biden administration’s perpetuation of the violence in Palestine. These “uncommitted” votes tried to incentivize behavior-change from Biden. Biden didn’t change his behavior. I don’t know how many of those “uncommitted” voters will vote for Biden in the general election. My sense is that some might not if the Biden administration keeps facilitating the violence in Palestine.
But when I took a deep breath and stood up from my seat in the decadent ballroom at Vice President Harris’s fundraiser, I hoped that my action would be one small drop in a growing stream of collective action.
Vice President Harris and President Biden, you could stop the flow of weapons and funds to Israel right now. You have the ultimate lever for ending this genocide in Palestine. Stop the flow of weapons now.
Arin Flaster is a health care researcher focusing on mental health and traumatic injury. Arin has worked in health care research for 10 years and has been involved in research on childhood/adolescent trauma, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, health services, and other long-term health conditions. Arin has lived in Seattle for 10 years.
Such as?
Shorter entire piece: progressives should do everything we possibly can to give Trump the White House again, knowing this would be a worse outcome for the Palestinians than re-electing Biden, but we’ll whine in advance this was not our fault.
You disrupted Vice President Harris because you’re a rude and self centered child who believes your voice should be heard over all others.
Your outburst accomplished nothing.
TL/DR: I’m furious that most of the public doesn’t agree with me about Gaza, but I am sure my and others’ performative outbursts will change their mind. If it doesn’t make people agree with my views we don’t have democracy anyway. Because democracy is people agreeing with me.
Saying a plurality of those polled agreed with your position is another way of saying a majority of those polled disagreed with your position. Congratulations on getting all the Instagram likes and shares though.
You call that a decadent ballroom? Have you ever been to the Ruins? The Olympic? The Davenport?
“Many people, including myself, feel powerless to curb the US’s role in facilitating violence in Palestine. We sign petitions. We march in the streets. We block roads. We start encampments on university campuses. We call our senators. Nothing changes. The weapons and money keep flowing.”
Gosh, this makes it seem like inconveniencing random strangers by blocking roads or occupying campuses might not be an effective means of creating change.
@9: “We start encampments on university campuses.”
Which then spew eliminationist rhetoric against Israel, make demands for universities to blacklist academics who don’t agree with the campers’ political opinions, and produce accusations that school administrators who resist this bullying are baby-killing mass murderers. Somehow, all of this mysteriously fails to gather public support.
The United States will never denounce Israel. It will continue to arm and fund genocide and use Israelis to slaughter and starve whoever they want them to in the Middle East in the name of “peace” and “anti-Semitism.” WAKE THE FUCK UP.
@1 ” There are more constructive ways to channel your activism “
an evergreen refrain any time there’s a protest of any sort
1) Hamas are intolerant terrorists that are hiding behind the people there
2) Hamas is against all of your liberal principles and western values
3) take away all the fighting and assume there was a free Palestinian state …..they would not be as acceptant to gay or trans or women’s rights as you think so it’s very counter intuitive on your part.
No one ever addresses the overpopulation problem over there and lack of resources… Palestinians are desperate for resources and things to do and terrorizing Jews it is one thing that they do come up with
“It
is only
through
collective
action and
organizing that we
can build the world we
want and stop the violence
perpetrated by our elected representatives.”
Thank You for your
Thoughtful Action!
the moral arc of the
Universe will NOT bend
itself and Nevermind the
Status Quoziers here @ tS
they think
Everything’ll
just Take Care
of Itself. wtf: How?
the Fascists
are At the
fucking
Gates.
Did you honestly think that interrupting the vice president would change other people’s minds? You say that you are not a seasoned activist but it seems to me that you have at least been coached by people who are. If so, are you sure that you are fully aware of their aims?
@16
judging
by her chosen
Addressee there
was but One target
and any ancillary
conversions partly-
or Otherwise’d all be
pure Bonus. see: MLK et al
the
Status
Quo Will
NOT HOLD.
@1 doesn’t like the way you expressed an opinion he will never agree with regardless.
@9 inconveniencing random people is performative and obnoxious because the drivers stopped on I-5 or wherever have no ability to control US policy. Interrupting ghoul politicians at their fundraisers on the other hand is entirely appropriate.
@1 I notice you did not answer my question, nor did any of the other usual genocide-enablers who frequently “contribute” to the discussions in here.
What are the other, more timely and appropriate (in your view) means of speaking out against this ongoing horror, paid for by our tax dollars, with bombs we shipped them, with intelligence we supplied, and under the diplomatic cover we provide?
Not you @18. Thumbs up!
@7 lot of words just to tell us you don’t know what “plurality” means
@14 how did the Palestinian areas get so overpopulated and resource-poor do you imagine? Is there any other territory they might have a plausible claim to that, if it were returned to them, would solve those particular problems?
Your claim that if Biden loses, it won’t be because of his stance on I/P is based on a calculation that cutting off Israel will not cost more votes or states than what he’s doing now. On the contrary, I think it is likely that a real break with Israel would absolutely cost him the election. Which, BTW would result in far more dead Palestinians than what is happening now.
Remember Honey Bunny from Pulp Fiction? That’s what Bibi wants to do, and Trump would encourage him.
@21: the way this author is using plurality here is to act like “less aid for Israel” is the most popular position because it outnumbers “same amount of aid to Israel” and “more aid for Israel” when they are taken separately, but not when they are combined. Which you would know if you read the linked survey results.
The survey results, such as they are, are pre-massaged to fit the desired talking points, but they do not show what this author is implying they show. It simply is not true that the author’s position (roughly stated: “cut off Israel’s defense budget right now”) in any way matches the electorate’s stated preferences. Which is why it would be politically disastrous for any Democrat wishing to win in November to incorporate those preferences into their platform.
It’s fine to say your position is the right one for moral reasons. But it is very conspicuously not the position held by the majority of voters.
@18: “Interrupting ghoul politicians at their fundraisers on the other hand is entirely appropriate.”
So, other than the aforementioned Instagram likes and shares, what did this stunt accomplish?
@19: “What are the other, more timely and appropriate (in your view) means of speaking out against this ongoing horror,”
Organizing protests against Hamas’ abuse of civilians in Gaza? Demanding the international community destroy that terrorist gang?
“Of course the people don’t want war.
But after all,
it’s the leaders
of the country who
determine the policy,
and it’s always a simple
matter to drag the people
along whether it’s a democracy,
a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament,
or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no
voice, the people can always be brought to
the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you
have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and
denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing
the country to greater danger.”
— Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
can not Wait till
bibi Eltrumpfster gee
dubya the dick CHENEY et
al’re finally on the damn Docket
let them
Tribunals
begin, baby.
I think the essential problem here is that protesters are using techniques from the baby boomers (which took a long time to see any results) in a situation where the vast majority of Americans have no idea what is going on, or even where Israel/Gaza is located, let alone the history.
The boomers had an advantage because everyone was affected by Vietnam to some extent or another, and they had a lot of celebrity backing. The message—End the War in Vietnam—was crystal clear to both sides.
The people in that room weren’t dumb or evil, and neither is VP Harris. But it’s still performative and evocative of protest actions more than half a century old – and I’d be willing to bet no one in that room was swayed.
Now, apply that to a disrupted Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, or an endless evening commute home, or a Saturday afternoon spent in a traffic jam and all that means to the population is some crazy people from Seattle are worked up about something, and it plays into the stupid “Seattle is Dying” narrative. Add religious bigotry – of whatever persuasion – to the mix, and it’s just a muddled mess.
To spur action, whatever side of this mess you are on, can’t start with moral scolding, if most people have no idea what you are talking about.
@24 “the way the author is using plurality here” is the way everyone uses plurality everywhere, because that’s what the word means
@25 other than hundreds of thousands of people seeing and explicitly approving of their “stunt” what did it accomplish? Made Kamala and her boosters uncomfortable and let them know voters disapprove of the administration’s inaction. Not everyone has a massive war chest like AIPAC to buy elections, regular people need to use other means to make their feelings known.
@29: “Made Kamala and her boosters uncomfortable…”
You might try reading the headline post again:
‘But, alas, as a seasoned politician, she just said, “Thank you, I am speaking now.”’
Just a-quakin’ in her boots, she was.
Obviously.
“…let them know voters disapprove of the administration’s inaction.”
‘Three-quarters of respondents said Israel should move forward “with an operation in Rafah to finish the war with Hamas, doing its best to avoid casualties even though there will be casualties.” A quarter picked the other option — that Israel should “back off now and allow Hamas to continue running Gaza.”’
“The survey was conducted from May 15-16 among 1,660 registered voters by the Harris Poll and HarrisX. The margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 2 percentage points.”
(https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4675669-joe-biden-israel-approval-lowest-mark-new-poll/)
@28: Here are the poll results, from the link in the headline post:
“When thinking about U.S. funding for military aid and weapons for Israel, do you think the U.S. should
increase funding, decrease funding, or keep it as is?
18% – Increase funding for this
33% – Keep funding as is
37% – Decrease funding for this
12% – Don’t know
So a plurality, 37%, want “U.S. funding for military aid and weapons for Israel” decreased. A majority, (33% +18% = 51%) want “U.S. funding for military aid and weapons for Israel” either to remain the same or increased, or in plainer terms, NOT decreased.
Or, as @7 put it succinctly, “Saying a plurality of those polled agreed with your position is another way of saying a majority of those polled disagreed with your position.”
See how easy that was?
You’re welcome.
@29
Do you believe that all 2.3 million Gazans should be bombed or starved to death because Hamas and other groups launched an operation against Israel on October 7th?
Argh. @30
@30 not every pol is a clown on the level of Seattle CM Moore, some can manage to appear unfazed when their speeches are disrupted, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect them.
@31 not “Jews” a particular dark money lobbyist organization which is well documented to buy elections. Note the author of this article and the organization he represented are also Jewish, would I be justified in labeling you an antisemite for criticizing them? Obviously not. Try harder.
@34: Still waiting for you to provide evidence for your claim @29 this stunt made “Kamala and her boosters uncomfortable…”, especially when the protester’s own account states (regretfully!) how VP Harris easily maintained her own decorum in the presence of rude behavior.
@32: “Do you believe that all 2.3 million Gazans should be bombed or starved to death…”?
No, that is Hamas’ position, and I oppose terrorism. How about the world’s protestors work to stop Hamas, instead of just ineffectually yelling at each other about ineffectually yelling at Israel?
“…Hamas and other groups launched an operation against Israel on October 7th?”
Hamas was launching rockets into Israel from Rafah, as the IDF moved towards Rafah to stop them. That was long after October. Please do try to keep up.
(Oh, and BTW: “launched operations” as a euphemism for kidnapping, rape, and murder spree against defenseless civilians? Somewhere, George Orwell is giving you a side-eye. May no terrorist group ever “launch operations” anywhere near where you have family or friends.)
As a white man, I can’t think of anything more racist than a white man interrupting a black woman giving a speech because she is not complying with his political wishes. As I have said before, if Trump wins in November, once he shreds the Constitution, I will denounce to the authorities every loony leftist who put the fate of the Palestinians above the safety of our fellow Americans as AntiFA. If people who worked to preserve Democracy by working to stop Trump have to suffer because of these idiots, then they should suffer far worse.
@37 as a white man it seems you’ve been effectively insulated from racism if that’s the most racist thing you can imagine
nyt:
For Campus Protesters in Brussels,
Familiar Methods, but
Different Outcomes
Pro-Palestinian student activists at one Belgian university have borrowed from the U.S. playbook of encampments and slogans. The results, however, have been starkly different.
On the leafy campus of a Dutch-speaking university, students have for months been demanding that their institution break ties with Israeli academia over the war in Gaza.
Their campaign borrows extensively from the U.S. campus protest playbook. The students have set up an encampment. They have staged daily demonstrations.
And they have sometimes used slogans that many Jews view as a call for the elimination of Israel, like, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
In the United States, the protests have taken place amid a hyper-polarized political environment, contentious relations between students and administrators, and acrimonious hearings in Congress.
But in Belgium’s capital, the protest at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, or V.U.B., has been far more peaceful because of a unique combination of factors: a supportive political environment (Belgium is a vocal critic of Israel); a proactive rector; strict protest rules; and, crucially, a tiny campus Jewish community that has chosen not to confront protesters despite discomfort over some of the protests.
As a result, and as like-minded protests incited by the war have brought disorder and violence to campuses in the United States as well as in Europe, the students on the Brussels campus have taken pride not only in the success of their protest, but also in its vibe.
–by Matina Stevis-Gridneff; June 16, 2024
reporting from the Vrije Universiteit
Brussel campus in Brussels
oodles More:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/16/world/europe/campus-protest-belgium-gaza.html
now
let the War
Crimes mongers
tear them asunder
@37 — “… if Trump wins in November, once he shreds the Constitution, I will denounce to the authorities every loony leftist who put the fate of the Palestinians above the safety of our fellow Americans as AntiFA.”
Biden –
siding with
bibi – at least
Initially — and now
bibi ‘appears’ Untouchable
puts the Safety of Americans
in Jeopardy – and Jews planetwide
every time he sends more Weaponry
and Billions of Our tax Dollars to bibi’s
Genocidal Regime. speaking of Blowback
believe it or Don’t
Palestiians heve
Friends some
of whom’re
not Nice
people
who may look at the nearly
FORTY THOUSAND DEAD
Palestinians as Excessive
for a terrorist act killing
some 1,400 Israelis &
seek what they may
see as Retribution.
END The Fucking
GENOCIDE
N.O.W.
@39: So, did the V.U.B. actually do anything the protestors wanted? Your lengthy quote somehow failed to say.
Oh, and this particular point isn’t actually anything to brag about: “…crucially, a tiny campus Jewish community that has chosen not to confront protesters despite discomfort over some of the protests.”
European Jews know exactly what will happen to them if they dare to stand up for themselves, now don’t they?
@38 — I don’t have to imagine Donald Trump being super racist and being terrible for minorities in the US since he’s already done that and keeps doing it. Which is why it’s bad that the author of this piece — a white man — is doing everything he can to get Trump elected president again. But what does Flaster care? He’ll be fine. It’s the height of privilege.
@40: Did you just threaten terrorist acts against persons who dare to disagree with you? Because it certainly can read that way:
“puts the Safety of Americans
in Jeopardy – and Jews planetwide
every time he sends more Weaponry
and Billions of Our tax Dollars to bibi’s
Genocidal Regime. speaking of Blowback”
Oh, and we all know perfectly well how awful Hamas’ terrorists are:
“believe it or Don’t
Palestiians heve
Friends some
of whom’re
not Nice
people”
Yes, they raped and murdered Jews, for being Jews, on land they have vowed to cleanse of Jews. And while your command of English might not suffice to recognize an eight-letter word to match — one which was coined exactly to describe such activities — the rest of us can.
Maybe that’s why American registered voters overwhelmingly approve of the IDF destroying Hamas in Gaza?
@43 “American registered voters overwhelmingly approve of the IDF destroying Hamas in Gaza”
Actually the opposite is true. Independents disapprove 2:1 and Democrats are even more against
https://news.gallup.com/poll/642695/majority-disapprove-israeli-action-gaza.aspx
@44: Super up-to-date and relevant, too:
“The latest results are from a March 1-20 survey.”
And now for something a little more recent:
‘Three-quarters of respondents said Israel should move forward “with an operation in Rafah to finish the war with Hamas, doing its best to avoid casualties even though there will be casualties.” A quarter picked the other option — that Israel should “back off now and allow Hamas to continue running Gaza.”’
“The survey was conducted from May 15-16 among 1,660 registered voters by the Harris Poll and HarrisX. The margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 2 percentage points.”
(https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4675669-joe-biden-israel-approval-lowest-mark-new-poll/)
The majority of Germans also supported rounding up Jews, confiscating their property, forcing them into ghettos, then eventually on to work camps or death camps. That did not make it right.
A large, but possibly shrinking, majority of Israeli Jews support the current genocide in Gaza. If you take some time to study the history going back to 1948 and even before, the analogy just keeps getting stronger and stronger.
Vice President Harris will speak on whitehouse(dot)gov Monday June 17 at 1:30PM Pacific Time on sexual violence in war. Included will be excerpts from Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary Screams Before Silence. The documentary is also available free elsewhere.
Humans have a history of war. Right now we have Sudan, Eastern Congo, Syria, The Sahel, Myanmar, various drug and gang wars, Ukraine, and others. Many are funded by fossil fuel money, so by fossil fuel consumers.
The war is Gaza is probably the most covered in the media in history. Maybe that will lead to peace throughout the world as a new generation grows into positions of responsibility?
@45 that’s a great example of manipulating poll data by very intentional phrasing and limiting options. “Invade Rafah or just quit and let Hamas win” is a false dichotomy. Also the pro-invasion response specifies that Israel “do its best to avoid casualties,” which many people do not believe Israel is doing, which is a big reason so many do not support Israel’s actions. That poll is trash.
@46: “The majority of Germans also supported rounding up Jews, confiscating their property, forcing them into ghettos, then eventually on to work camps or death camps.”
You state with great confidence the absolute truth of a point which, in reality, has been hotly debated ever since we tore down the Third Reich. That regime went to great lengths to hide their program of mass murder, which suggests it wasn’t as popular as you make it sound. (Also, European Jews had been walled up in ghettos for centuries before the Nazis came to power. It wasn’t a new idea.)
If you want to make a modern analogy to the Nazis, I suggest you start with Hamas. Killing Jews for being Jews, on land Hamas has vowed to cleanse of Jews, sounds awfully familiar to anyone knowledgeable about the Third Reich. Don’t you agree?
@49 “Killing Jews for being Jews, on land Hamas has vowed to cleanse of Jews”
It was so messed up when all those Christians were killed for being Christians at Little Bighorn
@48: Or maybe the poll questions simply reflect reality?
“Hamas has insisted it will not release the remaining hostages unless there’s a permanent cease-fire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.”
(https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-negotiations-ab6925549d8f523a6e5c61e88e7eec8a)
That sounds a lot like the premise of the poll: either Israeli military actions continue, or a cease-fire leaves Hamas in Gaza.
Also, it’s easily possible to believe the IDF is trying to limit casualties. The number of casualties per day is lower than on 10/7, even with Hamas using Gazans as human shields.
when the sociopaths
are the voice of
‘reason’ you
know this
Planet’s
likely
fuck-
ing
Doomed.
“American
registered voters
overwhelmingly approve
of the IDF destroying Hamas in Gaza”
–@Wormtongue
“The majority of Germans also supported
rounding up Jews, confiscating their property,
forcing them into ghettos, then eventually on to
work camps or death camps. That did not make it right.”
–@ OneTrickPony
yeah
but it
did make
it Genocide.
“There
is no justify-
cation for terrorism. Ever.”
tensorna on December 8, 2023 at 8:44 AM
‘There
Is No Justifi-
cation for Terrorism,’
Says Man Justifying Genocide
more, disturbingly:
https://theneedling.com/2023/09/02/there-is-no-justification-for-terrorism-says-man-justifying-genocide/