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by Um Ahmad MIAMI (IslamOnline) - Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in South Florida are gradually taking on a more aggressive tone. Last Saturday protestors in Miami gathered for the fifth time since the beginning of the current intifada sparked by a controversial visit by Ariel Sharon to the al-Haram al-Sharif.
This is the fourth of such protests held in front of the Israeli consulate in Miami, the other was held in front of the Holocaust Memorial as a counter protest to a pro-Israeli rally. Saturday's demonstration was not a call for peace with the Israelis. Rather, the demonstration specifically called for a jihad (holy struggle). Muslims representing several countries joined together in chanting pro-jihadi slogans, such as "We don't want negotiation, with jihad we'll claim our nation," and "With jihad we'll claim our land, Zionist blood will wet the sand." Karima Rahim, an American Muslima, said, "I think what the Israeli Jews are doing is a crime against humanity. They [the Israelis] need to get out of that land [Palestine]. If the U.S. is so worried about it, they should just give them [Palestinians] a state."
This was Jibreel's second protest in one week. At the first protest he attended, during a public reading of the names of the shuhadaa (martyrs), he cried out, "Why? Why? Why are they killing those kids? What did they do wrong?" While adults tried to keep their tears back, Jibreel grabbed the megaphone on his own and shouted "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" Turnout at Saturday's protest indicated that what is occurring in Palestine is not just a concern for Palestinians, but for Muslims from around the world as well. Not only were there Palestinian, but also Bosnian, Chechen, Egyptian, Moroccan, Hezbollah, and various African and other green Islamic flags waved throughout the day in solidarity. The crowd cheered loudly as a car passed with a Saudi Arabian youth holding a sign that read: "I have a dream... that one day Palestine will be free." When questioned by reporters, he emphatically stated: "Make sure you let people know that I am from Saudi Arabia. I want people to know that Saudi Arabians are standing up for Palestine!" People from all backgrounds seemed to share the same sentiment. The demonstration took on a more solemn tone when the crowd gathered together around a mock cemetery with cardboard "gravestones" for each of the Palestinians killed since the beginning of the current intifada. The crowd then joined in following a mock funeral procession amidst shouts of "Haya 'ala al-jihad," occasionally stopping to burn Israeli flags. Before the crowd dispersed, Muslims from all backgrounds loudly chanted "Muslims united, will never be divided". Observers have stated that if the Israelis were to be credited with anything these past two weeks, it would be for uniting the Muslim and Arab world against them. Another demonstration is scheduled for October 21st at the Holocaust War Memorial in Miami. (for more details and directions, contact www.free-jerusalem.com) |
Five-year-old Jibreel S., clad in military fatigues and holding a sign reading "Jewish values: Kill women and children," took the lead in an all children's demonstration held behind the adults. Another child led the group in chanting, "U.S. taxes paid the bill, Israelis used it all to kill."
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