A large group gathered at Washington Park for the second time this week to support the people of Palestine amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
Since the violence began last Monday, at least 213 Palestinians have been killed in airstrikes, including 61 children, and more than 1,440 people have been wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
In Israel, 12 people have been killed in the ongoing rocket attacks fired from Gaza.
On Tuesday, Palestinian leaders called for a labor strike to protest Israeli occupation and violence. Many schools, ministries, and businesses across cities in Israel and the occupied territories were closed, according to the Associated Press.
Cincinnati organizers Noel Maghathe and Basma Garadah said they wanted to host a vigil in solidarity with the Palestinian labor strike.
"Today is a call to action, all the way from Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians went on strike today from the river to the sea. We're here today to support this historic resistance and stand against Israel's apartheid government," Garadah said.
A crowd of about 80 people applauded as she spoke, many waving Palestine flags and holding signs reading "Free Palestine."
A moment of silence followed for the many Palestinians that have lost their lives in the violence.
Some people attending the vigil went to a microphone set up by the gazebo to read poems written by Gaza poets.
"I wish you were able to go back to your mom after a long day of school, to eat lunch and watch your favorite TV shows. Hang your hopes on the line of the roof. Rest your head. Rest in peace," said one of the women reading.
After others read, Maghathe and Garadah invited those who wanted to get involved in creating a Cincinnati group in support of Palestine to reach out.
"The point in doing this is to spread awareness to the American people. We’ve talked to so many people who still don’t know what’s happening. They’re doing what they can over in Palestine but we have to do what we can here," Garadah said.
She said this much support for Palestine would not have been possible years ago and credits the Blacks Lives Matter movement for creating a space to allow their voices to be heard.
"The evictions, the bombings, this has been happening for years in Palestine. And no one paid attention. What’s changed this time is the Black Lives Matter movement has said other issues are going on that need to be recognized and they have been in raising Palestinian voices," Garadah said.
Maghathe added that she was blown away by the number of people locally who've shown support and noted the solidarity between Palestinians and Black Lives Matter.
She gave the example of how over the summer, people from Palestine took to Twitter to advise Black Lives Matter protestors on dealing with the tear gas police were using.
"We feel so much solidarity between the groups and the solidarity is powerful," Maghathe said.
For more information on how to get involved, email [email protected].
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