Monterey Rally for Palestinian Liberation

On Sunday, July 7, the Church of Jesus Christ Temple Philadelphia, a Christian evangelical church based in Salinas, mobilized 200-300 people to rally in support of Israel (many attendees came from other cities and states). In an aggressive move, they chose as the location for their rally the exact time and place as our weekly demonstration for Palestine where we have been gathering every Sunday since New Year's Eve.

Surprisingly, and heartbreakingly, the rally did not consist of the people one typically sees at zionist mobilizations in the U.S. (disproportionately white and middle class), but instead largely consisted of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador. To make sense of this, we must understand that, as capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism continue to tear apart our communities, people are looking for answers. They're trying to make sense of a senseless world and find communities and worldviews that help them survive materially as well as spiritually. Unfortunately, sometimes people find the wrong answers and cling to them. With their Israeli and U.S. flags, the evangelical zionists have clearly aligned themselves with the very systems of oppression that displaced them from their home communities and continue to exploit them here.

Our movements against oppression and exploitation, and for a more just and egalitarian world, must meet people's needs for community and for a sense of purpose and belonging. Monterey Palestine Solidarity is doing exactly that. We are building a diverse, local community of people committed to creating a world where, as the Zapatistas say, many worlds fit. We will outlast the zionists and all other oppressors because, as we have learned from the Palestinian people and their resistance, we will remain steadfast. If you are seeking such a community and share our vision of a world based on solidarity and mutuality, join us. For a free Palestine, for a free world!