Words & Cover Art by Ali Al Omari (HE/HIM)
“The suppression, shadow banning, smear campaigns, doxing, threats, et cetera, are all because they know that their crimes are that morally indefensible, and anyone with an ounce of humanity will turn on them with the slightest exposure to those crimes”—Dr. Omar Suleiman
In the heart of the 'land of the free’, a war rages against the very essence of liberty. Across oceans and borders students rise in unity, their voices ringing out against the chains of oppression binding Palestine. Yet, in response to their peaceful cries for justice, the heavy boots of authority trample their protests, shattering the illusion of free speech.
At the esteemed halls of Columbia University and beyond, the call for divestment from Israel, a beacon of resistance against apartheid and occupation, reverberates through the corridors of power. Instead of heeding the call, armed forces descend upon the campuses, their weapons aimed not at the oppressors but at the oppressed. Rubber bullets, stones, and fireworks, the crude tools of silencing, rain down upon the righteous, turning peaceful dissent into a bloody battlefield.
In the halls of academia, where knowledge should be revered above all else, the story of Asna Tabassum unfolds. A USC valedictorian is silenced, her voice snatched away by the hands of censorship simply for daring to stand in solidarity with Palestine. Her crime? Speaking truth to power, challenging the status quo with her unwavering support for the oppressed.
Yet, amidst this blaring suppression, a lone figure emerges from the shadows. A symbol of defiance and resilience depicts the Lady of Liberty. Wrapped in the iconic Palestinian kuffiyeh, she stands as a testament to the indomitable will of the oppressed. But even she is not spared from the onslaught of censorship. Vandalized and defaced, her image serves as a stark reminder of the forces that seek to silence criticism and erase truth.
In the face of such tyranny, let us not falter. Let us raise our voices in unison, amplifying the cries of the silenced, and shattering the chains of oppression that bind us. For true liberty knows no bounds, and only through the relentless pursuit of justice can we reclaim the shattered fragments of our collective humanity.
Let us not forget the hypocrisy of the West, which champions freedom of speech only when it aligns with their agenda. When voices speak out against injustice in Palestine, they are met with silence or violence, revealing the true nature of selective freedom. It is time to expose this double standard and demand consistency in the application of liberty for all.
Free Palestine!