Palestinians in the United States declare that
FREEDOM IS THE FUTURE
What follows is a vision of justice grounded in Palestinian demands for freedom and self-determination, our right to return to our homeland, the space to thrive, and our right to resist for the better world we know is possible.
There is a global divide between those who believe in freedom and dignity for all and those who justify oppression and supremacy. The Palestinian struggle for freedom from Israel’s daily violence against our people and ongoing settler colonization of our land is part of a universal struggle for collective liberation.
Our work for freedom is rooted in the lessons of our elders to care for the earth, our people, and our heritage. We will not give in to injustice. We will not be erased.
Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people is driven by Zionism, a political ideology that called for the building of a Jewish state in Palestine. To build this state, armed Zionist groups initiated their settler colonial project in our homeland and destroyed hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages, massacred our people, and drove us from our land. Today, Israel maintains an unjust political system of supremacy by denying Palestinians our basic rights and privileging Jews over non-Jews. Israel shares strategies with the U.S.’ own settler colonial violence against Indigenous people, as well as the U.S. government’s war against the poor and oppressed.
In a clear example, the U.S. and Israeli governments conduct joint police and military exchanges where worst practices are shared. Israeli tactics informed U.S. repression of the Ferguson uprising and Standing Rock water protectors. Our struggles are unique, but we are all fighting for a better world, with justice for all.
It is long past time to divest from oppression and invest in our communities. In the U.S., we should invest in healthcare for all, equal access to education, and a healthier environment to ensure we have a future worth fighting for, instead of using our tax dollars to harm communities around the globe.
The U.S. government uses taxpayer funds—$3.8 billion annually—to bolster Israel’s military, making us complicit in Israel’s violence. We Palestinians in the U.S. are forced to fund our own oppression.
We demand that the U.S. immediately end all military funding to Israel and other forms of military, economic, and diplomatic support until Israel upholds the rights of the Palestinian people and our vision of justice.
what justice requires
We uplift the demands of our people across the globe for full justice.
01.
SEE US, HEAR US: JUSTICE REQUIRES PALESTINIAN SELF-DETERMINATION.
We demand our right to self-determination. We have the right to dream, to make choices, to shape our lives and futures. We must be free to govern ourselves without interference. We have the right to preserve and express our language, culture, heritage, and peoplehood. We have the right to our land and natural resources. We speak for ourselves and must be consulted and listened to regarding our future. Nothing about us should be without us.
02.
RETURN IS THE FUTURE: JUSTICE REQUIRES OUR RIGHT OF RETURN.
We demand the fulfillment of the right of all Palestinians to return to their homeland. Like all people, Palestinians should have the freedom to stay, the freedom to move, and the freedom to return to their homes. We demand the right for all Palestinians to travel freely to Palestine with no interrogations, deportations, racial or religious profiling, or militarized borders. Return is the first step towards realizing historic justice and decolonizing our lands.
03.
LET’S GET FREE: JUSTICE REQUIRES FREEDOM FOR ALL PALESTINIANS.
We demand freedom for all Palestinians. Israel cannot continue to control our land and lives. We demand the end of Israel's ongoing illegal military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. It must end its blockade against Palestinians in Gaza, who are deprived of water, electricity, and medical treatment. We demand the end of home demolitions, land confiscations, and racialized violence against Palestinian citizens of Israel. We, the Indigenous people of Palestine, are entitled to full freedom on our land.
04.
SAFETY FOR ALL: JUSTICE REQUIRES THE FREEDOM TO THRIVE.
We demand the freedom to thrive and live in safety and dignity. We demand an end to Israel's structural violence and systematic destruction of Palestinian lives and livelihoods. We cannot thrive with a boot on our necks. We don't want handouts; we want the freedom to build our own just and liberated society that is free of classism, patriarchy, homophobia, racism, ableism, and bigotry in all forms. Without stability, safety, and agency, Palestinians cannot live full lives.
05.
STRUGGLE WITH US: JUSTICE REQUIRES OUR RIGHT TO RESIST FOR A BETTER WORLD.
We demand the right to resist our oppression. We demand the right to live without fear of political repression when exercising our right to assembly, dissent, and speech. We demand an end to unconstitutional legislation denying our right to boycott for human rights. We should be free to organize our communities in pursuit of justice and liberation.
WE CALL ON PEOPLE OF CONSCIENCE TO SUPPORT OUR STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND JOIN US IN FIGHTING FOR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION TOWARDS JUSTICE FOR ALL.
These demands are authored by Palestinians in the U.S., and emerged as part of the Justice for All campaign, led by the Adalah Justice Project and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. The Freedom is the Future vision and policy demands draw inspiration from the Vision for Black Lives, The Red Nation’s Red Deal, and the disability rights movement.
US Palestinian Endorsers
Adalah Justice Project
American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine
The Americans & Palestinians for Peace (AMPAL)
The Arabic Network of Culture Opinion and Media
Arab Resource & Organizing Center
Arizona Palestine Solidarity
Dallas Palestine Coalition
DC Palestinian Film and Arts Festival
Life in My Days, Inc.
New Generation for Palestine
Palestine American Coalition of San Francisco
Palestinian American Community Center, New Jersey
Palestinian American Council
Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
Palestinian Youth Movement
US Palestinian Community Network
US Palestinian Council
Solidarity Endorsers
About Face
The Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine
American Friends Service Committee
Assata’s Daughters
Black 4 Palestine
Blauvelt Dominican Sisters Social Justice Committee
Center for Constitutional Rights
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America’s BDS and Palestine Solidarity Working Group and International Committee
Democratic Socialists of America Libertarian Socialist Caucus
Dream Defenders
Episcopal Peace Fellowship’s Palestine Israel Network
Eyewitness Palestine
Freedom Archives
Freedom to Thrive
Friends of Sabeel North America
Grassroots International
Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace Boston
Jewish Voice for Peace San Antonio Chapter
Jews Say No!
La Resistencia (Northwest Detention Center Resistance)
MPower Change
National Students for Justice in Palestine
Palestine Legal
Project South
Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice
Ramapough Lenape Nation
The Red Nation
Society of Native Nations
Students for Justice in Palestine at Occidental College
Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Veterans for Peace
War Resisters League
Washington Advocates for Palestinian Rights
Yemeni Alliance Committee