By July Levvesque, Staff Writer
On February 2nd, 2024 a pro-Palestine rally was held on the intersection of Franklin Street and Marginal Way at 1 PM. Around 200 people joined Maine’s Party for Socialism & Liberation (PSL) and members of the Maine Coalition for Palestine to protest and show support in calling for an immediate ceasefire. Information about the rally could be found on social media including on Instagram accounts like @pslmaine, @dsamaine, @mainelaborforpalestine, and @hcw4p_me. Organizers asked through social media that participants bring masks, keffiyehs, Palestinian flags, warm clothes, comfortable shoes, and signs.
On October 9, 2023, Israel ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip which led to civilians getting cut off from water, food, and electricity after a retaliation attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023. In the ongoing Israel-Hamas War 23,843 Palestinians have been killed and 1.9 million have been displaced in Gaza. Women and minors make up an estimated two-thirds of those killed. In Israel, more than 1,200 people have been killed all according to AP News updated on January 14, 2024. Now in February, about 5 months later from the initial start of the war, Palestinian civilians are still being killed with less and less of the Gaza strip having areas where people can stay safe from the effects of war with still no access to stable housing, water, food, and electricity. According to AP News, 45-65% of buildings in Gaza are damaged or destroyed, 15/36 Hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning, over 69% of schools are damaged, and 142 mosques, 3 churches, and 121 ambulances were also damaged before February. A ceasefire has been demanded for months and yet nothing but funding for aid towards Israel as well as silence has been given. PSL stated on their Instagram that Maine gives $11,670,145 per year to the Israeli military while Portland alone gives $1,142,847 per year to aid the Israeli military.
I arrived at the intersection around 1 PM and expected a sparse turnout but was surprised to see so many people in action with signs, flags, cameras, and masks. Everyone was dressed warmly due to the cold temperatures in Portland that day. As I was making my way to the intersection I began to notice the chanting and cheering of the protesters, speakers talking about their experiences, and cars honking melodically in support of or loudly for extended periods to drown out the voices of those who were protesting. I took my place on the side of the road with some other people as I stood with my friends and one of our Free Press photographers Liz Hildebrandt who got some photos of the event. Makeshift signs all around me read “Free Palestine” and “End Genocide” Across the street even more protesters were standing. Some speakers with megaphones acted as leaders for the event by starting chants and motivating the crowd. I listened as one said, “There is no use in trying to stop the Palestinian’s ideas, what has been awakened in us, they are already in the air. They cannot imprison them. There is no point in trying to stop their dreams because if they stop dreaming those dreams live now through our minds and our dreams. There is no point in thinking everything is going to stop when another baby dies because their heart is beating through ours. There are millions of hearts. Those in power can kill one to thousands of roses but they’ll never stop the arrival of spring and our fight is in the search of spring so as we stand here together right here right now in search of spring we remind them that perhaps my voice, one voice may waver but together we are unwavering and steadfast. Together we are the Palestinian voices. Together we are Palestinian” followed by a string of chants in succession, “Every time the media lies a neighborhood in Gaza dies!”
As time goes on a couple more speakers share information and stories with protesters before more and more chanting gets integrated into the protest. Someone in an orange vest asks if I can hold one of their signs and minutes after I witness people from the sides of the roads move into the middle of this intersection, they hold two long banners saying “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free” and “Stop arming genocide” between what seemed like 7-12 of them. Above on the overpass, ahead of us a couple of people hang a white banner with the word “Ceasefire” painted in black letters. The protesters move swiftly and orderly with a clear objective and mission to be heard. Around 9 people sit on the road in front of the signs staring into oncoming traffic and locking arms with each other in solidarity. Supporters from the side of the roads continue to chant as cars honk louder and louder. Later into the hour, traffic begins to back up substantially as their slogan “No business as usual” comes to fruition and we all successfully shut down the street.
People angrily honked but those on the road were steadfast in their efforts, determined to make a difference. Police started showing up at the intersection around 2 PM and began redirecting traffic. Slowly the road began to empty as cars turned around for alternative routes to their destinations and we were informed that we had 10 minutes to clear out from the area or arrests would happen. Still, no one budged even as the threat of being arrested loomed over people’s heads while police officers walked around and began talking and reasoning with protesters. Minutes ticked by and those with megaphones continued to rally those around them, shouting chants that targeted the silence of those in power… Biden, Collins, King. 10 Minutes had passed and still nothing, they were delaying arrests. I noticed some of the officers patting the shoulders of those sitting in the road trying to get their attention, squatting to reason with them… Those sitting didn’t budge. They stayed staring ahead of them. On my right more police vehicles showed up with every passing minute and around 2:40 PM they began arresting those still blocking traffic. 11 people in total were arrested during the protest. I watched as people around me including myself recorded the interactions between the authorities and protesters. The second person who got taken to one of the cars had his mask ripped down by an officer who seemed to have been handling him harshly, he got taken to a different car instead of the one the rest of them were being collected in. I left soon after around 3 PM as the crowd began to disperse.
I had remembered a phrase that one of the speakers had said that day and it stuck with me ever since. They had described the Israel-Hamas War as the “World’s first live-streamed genocide” Those words continue to ring true as I see little progress or effort coming from those in positions of power, as I’m writing this, and as I see live updates throughout the day scrolling through my phone. Every time the media lies a Palestinian neighborhood dies.