“I will not allow Zionism to zap the energy from my soul, but use my anger to go deeper in my commitment to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people”

Beyoncé Knowles released a song last week titled “Break My Soul”, and it has become a song for many that provides hydration for recovery from the deadly dehydrating pandemics of Covid-19, white supremacy, capitalism, and imperialism.

As I have traveled across Palestine this week, I have had to take numerous water breaks due to the heat and walking. Not only has my body been in need of refreshment, my soul has been drained from witnessing the evilness of the Israel colonial apartheid regime. There are so many infuriating experiences I have had this week that I cannot even begin to articulate the rage that I feel. It will take me at least a few weeks to process and to lament to give words to weariness in my soul from seeing the crimes committed to the Palestinian people.

Even though there have been times when I wanted to fall in to despair and begin to feel defeated as an eyewitness delegate, seeing the pride, passion, and perseverance of the Palestinian people made the words of Beyoncé’s new song come to life for me. From the smiles and laughter of the children from the Deheisheh Camp, to the fight and fortitude of Fatima Said, a lifelong Sheikh Jarrah resident who any day now could lose the home she and her father built, to the determination of Palestinians decreeing boldly that, “We are a proud people and this is our home and we will not stop fighting until Palestine is FREE.”

Therefore, I will not allow Zionism to zap the energy from my soul, but use my anger to go deeper in my commitment to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to proclaim to the perceived powers that if you come for one of us, you come for all of us. All Power to the People. FREE PALESTINE NOW!