1000’s March for ‘Free Palestine’ in San Francisco as Airstrikes and Rocket Assaults Proceed
Sabreen Imtair gathered in San Francisco for the freedom of her people more than 7,000 miles away.
Imtair said she was born in Palestine. According to the United Nations, her mother and siblings initially lived in the Kalandia refugee camp in East Jerusalem, a place full of overcrowding, unemployment and “frequent attacks by the Israeli armed forces”. Her grandmother often spoke reverently about looking after the land, like the olive trees her grandfather tended.
On Saturday, when Imtair joined thousands of others in a rally and march in the city, violence continued in Israel and Gaza, disproportionately hurting Palestinian life.
“I’m worried about her,” Imtair said of her family.
The march in the mission district took place in solidarity with similar demonstrations around the world.
Like Imtair, many of the San Francisco demonstration came from across the Bay Area and other parts of the state, but have roots in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many of them called on President Biden to reduce aid to Israel because of his military attack.
Thousands will march in solidarity with Palestinians in the San Francisco Mission District on Saturday, May 15, 2021. (Beth LaBerge / KQED)
Starting with speakers and poetry on 16th Street and Valencia Street, the growing crowd later marched down Mission Street shouting “Free, Free Palestine!” and waving Palestinian flags, covering the street in red, black, white and green.
For days, Israeli air strikes have leveled buildings in Gaza and Hamas rockets have rained down on Israeli cities. Violence has broken out in mixed communities where Jews and Palestinians live.
After nearly a week of violence, 188 people and eight Israelis were killed on Sunday morning in Gaza, according to the Associated Press. More than 900 were reportedly injured.
The date of the rally, May 15, also marked the Nakba, which means a disaster or catastrophe for Palestinians and, according to United Nations estimates, refers to the displacement of approximately 750,000 Palestinians shortly after the establishment of Israel in 1948.
