The protesters marched through the streets of Washington, DC
Washington - This week, thousands of Muslim Americans and non-Muslims stormed through the streets of the United States to promote unity and solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have recently been subjected to massive and deadly attacks against Israel, which hit the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, the State Department, about a thousand people took to the streets of Washington.
Act now to stop war and racism, or a response, a coalition of hundreds of peace and justice organizations, including the National Muslim Students Association, organized the protest. The coalition was created in 2001 to combat racism, war and other forms of injustice.
Demonstrators marched through the streets of major public institutions in the capital of the United States. Their voices grew louder as they approached the State Department and White House.
"Free, free, from the river to the sea," said one protestor, while others chanted slogans with the rhyming and jargons such as "in the Gaza Strip, did not cry, Palestine did not die," "Stop aid to Israel" and " Stop the massacre of Palestinians. "
People from all walks of life mixed with a large crowd of veiled women and young children.
Voices for Justice
Rahma Kamhawy, protestor from North Carolina, IslamOnline said these protests are intended to disseminate the word about what is happening in Gaza.
She believes, mediahave not do a good job of highlighting the plight of the Palestinians. "We are here to educate people," added Kamhawy.
She also said she was touched by the large number of people who came together to educate those who do not know much about the suffering of the Palestinian people.
"This demonstration has given us here in the U.S. a way to vent out feelings about the terrible situation happening in Gaza", protestor, who asked not to be identified, said. "Most of us feel so disconnected, and feel as though, although we can not do anything, but actually I feel that getting the word about the situation in kind and friendly way, it is very important ... The spread of knowledge the only thing that can combat ignorance, which is the sole contributor to the conflict. "
New Awakening
Many other protests taking place in the U.S., including California, New York, Boston, Texas, Florida, Utah and Chicago, just to name a few. The demonstrations show the emerging sense of unity, as well as the awakening of Muslim Americans. This is especially true in the younger generation, who see the need to educate the public about the humanitarian problems in the Muslim world.
Dr. Hatem Bazian, lecturer of Middle East and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, strongly believes that Muslims are beginning to understand the obstacles they face. "The problem in the Muslim world not to confuse symptoms of the reasons for this state, they find themselves in," he said. "Gaza is a symbol and focal point for Muslims, who saw their collective liberties, freedom, happiness, dignity, dignity, welfare and the whole country had colonized elite waste inside and outside the colonial forces."
Dr Bazian said protests have meaning for Muslim Americans stand in solidarity with the disadvantaged, both in the Muslim and Arab countries. He added that the Palestinian hardship brought Muslims together and creates a bridge of unity.
Opposing views
One protestor said bystander in Washington: "You know that this money is going to trash this? It is used to bomb and kill innocent children." Protest, in some respects led sarcastic looks and laughs from some of the streets.
The observer of the protest, who preferred to remain anonymous, told IslamOnline ", part of my salary is taken out to kill children?" No, this can not be true. But what can I do about it [if]? "
Hope
Protesters across the United States have expressed a sense of hope and optimism. Most people interviewed IslamOnline said that they hoped that one day the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will come to an end.
Dr Bazian added that against the backdrop of "dark days", justice and freedom will prevail.
He also said that it is time to act to ensure that freedom and justice will occur.
"The time has come, and it arrived today," he said.