WASHINGTON, April 5 (IslamOnline) – African Americans, Christians and Jews almost outnumbered Arabs, Muslims Thursday, April 4, at a rally in front of the Israeli Embassy. This is just one indication that American public opinion regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is edging slowly towards holding Israel accountable for the violence in the region. A recent poll showed a rise from 23% last year to 38% this year of Americans believing that Israel should bear some responsibility.

Black Voices for Peace, the Plymouth United Church of Christ, and Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel marched called for the rally in support of the Palestinian people to coincide with the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,

the most influential African American civil rights leader in U.S. history. 

The rally, which swelled to roughly 1,500 people, the majority of which were not Muslim or Arab, marched from the busy intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness to the Israeli Embassy amidst heavy police escort and federal helicopters, after rallying there for roughly an hour in an attempt to bring the plight of the Palestinian people to passers-by during the rush hour commute home.  

Arriving at the Israeli Embassy, the protestors were lead in prayer by Muslim and Christian leaders as Reverend Graylan Hagler, Senior Minister of the Plymouth United Church of Christ said a prayer aloud while Muslims gathered to pray their evening prayers. 

A moment of silence for the Palestinians was held along with another moment of silence in remembrance of Dr. King.  

In an exclusive interview with IslamOnline before the speaking forum of the rally began, Deborah Hyams, an American Jewish activist with Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel (JPPI) relayed that she had recently come back from a trip to the Occupied Territories where she was helping bring humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian people. 

The Washington D.C.- based activist also went on to state that as a Jew she was appalled that the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinians were being done so in the name of Judaism. 

“As a Jew I care about all of humanity and everything is precious. I have a responsibility as a Jew to stand up for injustice, especially if that injustice is being done in my name and the name of my faith,” Hyams stated. 

She also went to say that she had spoken on Wednesday to other Israeli peace activists attempting to bring food and medical supplies to the Palestinians besieged in West Bank towns and was told that Israeli forces, upon seeing the supplies, destroyed them and even “stomped on the medicines.” Palestinians in Ramallah and other West Bank towns invaded over the past week are reported to be starving to death as Israeli soldiers have forbidden them from leaving their homes in order to get food. In addition, the hospitals in the area are reported to be overwhelmed with resources being depleted and morgues overflowing with Palestinian civilian casualties. 

Damu Smith, chairman of Black Voices for Peace, a progressive African American organization formed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, slammed Israel for its murders of Palestinians and called Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a “terrorist”. He also extended the blame for the aggressions on the U.S. and its sending funding of the Israeli army. 

“They talk about bombs strapped to Palestinian activists as ‘terrorism’, well what about the bombs strapped to U.S. supplied F16s…what about the missiles strapped to U.S. supplied Apache helicopters…and what about the weapons strapped to U.S. supplied tanks. That is terrorism,” Smith asserted. 

Reverend Hagler also spoke on behalf of the Christian community and called on the U.S. to stop funding the war on the Palestinians with U.S. tax money. 

“The only thing we have done wrong until today is stay silent. But the only thing we have done right today is stand up for the dignity of the Palestinian people,” Hagler stated. 

“But know that truth being pushed to the ground will again rise up and Palestinians attempted to be crushed will also again rise up,” Hagler emphasized. 

He also went on to echo others’ voices calling Israel “criminal”, as protestors began calling Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a “crime minister.” 

“The latest trick word is ‘terrorism’. But what really means is a green light for any criminal government to act against people fighting to protect their own dignity. Somehow governments brutalizing people is called self-defense. But that is truly what terrorism is,” Hagler concluded. 

Muslim and Arab organizations including the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and Masjid Mohammed of Washington D.C. also co-sponsored the rally.