On Saturday, November 17th, the “We The People Rally” is set to be held in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This rally, according to its facebook page, is for “all Patriots, Militia, 3%, constitution loving Americans, pro good cop, pro ICE, pro law and order, pro life, pro American value[s], pro gun and anti illegal immigration.” In other words, this gathering of people is politically motivated, and their presence here is intended to make people in the city, in particular marginalized and historically oppressed groups, feel unsafe in their homes and communities.

Especially in the wake of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in the very same town, as well as rising global anti-Semitism and racism, this demonstration exemplifies and perpetuates the bigotry and xenophobia that is inherently imbued in white supremacy.

This same ideology was at the core of the ethnic cleansing of the Americas by European settlers. It was also instrumental in the targeting and eradication of Jewish populations in Europe. Today, the colonial legacy of ethnic cleansing continues this oppression against the Palestinian people, who are the targets of institutional violence and injustice, and who are deprived of the equal status and consideration they deserve as human beings. All these struggles are united, and all those who resist these hateful ideals must come together in opposition to those who espouse them.

We stand with the PushBack Campaign and the attendees of the counter-protest tomorrow in their efforts to defend against hate.

In solidarity,

Students for Justice in Palestine at UVM