Rally at White House marks al-Nakba anniversary

Washington, D.C., rally marking the 60th anniversary of al-Nakba, May 16.

Chants of “No Justice, No Peace,” and “Free Palestine” rang out at the White House as a spirited group of about 100 people demonstrated on May 16 in support of Palestinian rights and in remembrance of al-Nakba—the Catastrophe—in Washington, D.C. Al-Nakba marks the violent expulsion of millions of Palestinians from their land following the creation of the state of Israel.

The demonstration was sponsored by the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, American Muslims for Palestine and the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). Speakers at the rally in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, included Mahdi Bray, Executive Director, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation; Ibrahim Ramey, Director of Human and Civil Rights, MAS Freedom Foundation; Azita Cotterill, Iranian Women for Peace and Justice; Brian Becker, national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition; and Eugene Puryear, Youth and Student ANSWER.