On Sunday, May 17, Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition organized an online rally and discussion forum, “72 Years of Nakba: Marching Toward Return.:” The event was viewed by over 8,000 people on Facebook Live and Zoom, and brought together speakers and activists from a number of organizations working for the liberation of Palestine to collectively affirm and struggle for the right to return to Palestine. Every year, Al-Awda chapters across the country mark the Nakba anniversary with rallies on the streets; given the unique conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, this online event brought the energy and commitment of a rally to the online space.

The full event program included rally interventions by speaker and comedian Amer Zahr, cartoonist Carlos Latuff, Mohammed Khatib of Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, Hatem Mohtaseb of the Palestinian Youth Movement, Nerdeen Kiswani of Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine, Kameron Hurt of ANSWER, Taher Herzallah of American Muslims for Palestine, and Lamis Deek, representing Al-Awda.

The discussion forum included presentations by Palestinian scholars and activists, Rabab Abdulhadi, Hatem Bazian, Diana Buttu and Ahlam Muhtaseb, with wide-ranging discussions of the Nakba, colonialism and Zionism in Palestine, the current situation inside Palestine and the struggles and steadfastness of Palestinian refugees in the camps in Lebanon.

Al-Awda, PRRC, thanks all speakers, attendees and participants in this program and urges all to join us in continued organizing and activism for a liberated Palestine.

Watch the full program: