‘For Freedom to Think and Freedom to Live’
by Rana Abdulla
Rana Abdulla’s introduction to my presentation in Winnipeg March 2 includes a powerful statement of the rights of Palestinian people. Her statement is reproduced here with Rana’s permission.
When I landed in Winnipeg with my partner John Riddell the previous day, we were met by Harold Shuster, a friend from Independent Jewish Voices. He took us for lunch at wonderful Palestinian restaurant, the Yafa Café. There, we met its dynamic driving spirit, Rana Abdulla, well known in Winnipeg as a strong voice for Palestinian rights.
Rana was to introduce me the next day at the Winnipeg Labour Center, where I was speaking on my newly published book, Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey.
The meeting was built by the Mennonite Church and their working group on Palestine, Peace Alliance Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, the Canada Palestine Support Network, the United Jewish People’s Order, and Independent Jewish Voices.
Rana spoke generously of my book, but – more important — she presented a compact and eloquent statement on how to end the tragic suffering of Palestinian people. Here is what she said:
Rana Abdulla’s Introduction
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
I acknowledge we are convened on today on a site that is located on the original lands of the First Nations Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and which is the homeland of the Métis Nation.
We respect the treaties that were made on these territories; we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past.
As recent immigrants to these lands, many of us arriving as refugees from our own original lands, we share the desire to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Introducing tonight’s speaker
Tonight, we are going to hear from an exemplary woman. She is a human rights defender and long-time Palestinian solidarity activist against injustice.
Suzanne Weiss is a refugee from Hitler’s Europe, and, like many of us here tonight, a new Canadian. Holocaust and expropriation are themes in our diverse histories.
We have a great contribution to make to the reconciliation process between Canada and the First Nations whose land we share.
And Canada has a powerful role to play in ensuring that the world finally does the right thing in Palestine.
Seventy-three years is far too long to live in fear and limbo.
I am honored, inspired, and humbled that I was given the opportunity to introduce Suzanne Weiss to you.
Suzanne’s political consciousness and activism are anchored in her own life experience.
She has a strong track record of advocating in support of the struggles for self-determination, equality and dignity for disenfranchised people worldwide, and the responsible care of the planet.
Her personal history is rooted in the horrific Jewish experience of Europe during World War II.
Born in German-occupied France, to Jewish parents, hers is a story about solidarity and resistance that saved her as a child. It is one of those lessons about the meaning of life that we keep on needing to hear.
She was one of numerous Jewish children who were sheltered and cared for in small rural communities.
Her mother had died in Auschwitz, and her father also passed away, from fatal war injuries, shortly after finding her living with a loving French family.
Suzanne then lost all contact as she made her way through a series of orphanages and eventual adoption, by the Weiss family in the USA.
It was not the happily-ever-after story one would desired for the little girl. It was a difficult time in New York and within the family.
At age 17 she found the love, support, and sense of belonging that had eluded her for so long, in her membership in the Socialist Workers Party.
Suzanne became a lifelong social activist, engaged in student radicalization, the Cuban Revolution, movements for Black Power, women’s liberation, peace in Vietnam & freedom for Palestine.
Suzanne has dedicated her life to improving the
welfare of others.
She speaks as a survivor of the holocaust against the Jews, but hers is a voice
for all of humanity, not only for those who share her cultural and ethnic
heritage.
She is here because courageous people had reached
out to protect her. Her life has been lived in pursuit of social justice and
peace: The prevention of other holocausts is a central tenant of that
philosophy.
Celebrating an advocate for Palestinian rights
We are here this evening to celebrate and hear about Suzanne’s new book, Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey. Suzanne has just kindly gifted me a copy of this book and I am looking forward to reading it. I have no doubt that her book will be deeply inspiring and thought-provoking.
Suzanne has been a vociferous advocate for Palestine and Palestinians for decades. In her own words:
“If we have learned one thing from Hitler’s crimes against the Jews, it is that ethnic cleansing, ethnic slaughter and genocide must be opposed today wherever it occurs – and above all in Palestine.
“To be true to the memory of the victims of the Jewish Holocaust and of all Hitler’s victims, we must defend the Palestinians.”
I Am Speaking as a Palestinian
As Palestinians we continue with the deep consciousness and pain that our homeland was stolen from us. We were expelled from our homes. We were ambushed, chased away, hounded. We lost our loved ones.
Our dignity was hit at the core. When we attempted to fight back for what was ours, we became characterized as terrorists.
It has now been 73 years of genocide and oppression for Palestinians, and the world is still allowing it to happen.
It is a matter of bitter irony that victims of Hitler’s holocaust continue to pursue a similar exclusion and extinction strategy against Palestinians in our own land.
As you know Zionist attempts are always designed to silence us. They try to silence all Palestinians and our supporters because we refuse to accept an illegal state built on lies and theft.
Because we refuse to accept that strangers to Palestine can “return”, but Palestinians who still hold the keys and deeds to their Palestinian homes cannot!
The passage of time does not erase the history and impact of crimes when there are activists who keep those histories alive. When a Jew stands up and says “Never again means never again for anybody” we take heart.
When we hear that voice declare “not in my name”,
we know that the righteousness of the human spirit will prevail, and we refuse
to become distracted by divisive dialog and crafty political speeches.
End Israeli Apartheid
Our demands are simple and just. They are the only way to put an end to the colonial apartheid system imposed by Israel:
We demand: (1) the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian land; (2) acknowledgement of the right of the exiled Palestinians to return to their homeland; (3) for Palestinians to be granted equal rights to the rights of their Jewish brothers and sisters.
We have settled in a place like Canada. It is also a colonized land.
As settlers benefiting from that ongoing colonization, we do what we can to ensure we are not complicit in the ongoing deprivation and marginalization of the First Nations.
It means paying attention and learning lessons from the history of this land.
It means we have to maintain awareness of who and where we are.
It means we have to be conscious of the impact of our own activities and engagement within our broader communities.
It means we need gentleness, kindness, humanity and freedom. Freedom to think and freedom to live.
Freedom, equality, brotherhood
“Freedom, equality, brotherhood, the right to democratically choose your future,” Suzanne Weiss writes. “Those were my hopes for the world.”
That is what we’re working for, here and in Palestine. As Suzanne says,
“Never Again means never again for everyone.”
We look forward to listening to your journey Suzanne and your dedication to the courageous people in the global movement. Please join me in welcoming Suzanne Weiss.