By KELLY MYERS
EMMA ABATA
Los Alamos
We write with heavy hearts from Los Alamos, a place with an extraordinary history that is currently confronted with a disturbing present. For the past 16 weeks, a small group of us have stood on the streets of our town, voices raised against the heartbreaking events unfolding in Palestine. Our peaceful protests have sometimes been met with hostility and derogatory slurs, although we also sense a growing approval for our cause to see an immediate cease-fire, as well as a long-term peaceful solution for all the people in Palestine.
Having both grown up and been raised in Los Alamos and having benefited from privileges ultimately granted to us by LANL, we are conscious of the cognitive dissonance inherent in living in our community. However, we ask two important questions. Does Palestine pose a direct threat to the USA such that our military weapons need to be used to injure or kill 100,000 innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank? One might argue that Palestine poses a threat to our ally Israel, but we counter-argue that Israel poses a far greater threat to the sovereign nation of Palestine. Hospitals, schools, journalists, universities, mosques, churches, olive groves, residential areas, have been targeted and destroyed. Food, water, medicine, fuel have all been withheld. The International Court of Justice, the highest court in the world, has decided to pursue allegations by South Africa that Israel is committing genocide in Palestine. Furthermore, are we comfortable that a sizable amount of our taxpayer dollars is being used to support this genocide being imposed upon 2 million decent and innocent Palestinian people, half of whom are children?
We are pro-Palestinian, not anti-anyone, and our plea is not just for our cause but for a dialogue that transcends borders and ideologies, challenging the roots of colonialism and the impact of capitalism on global conflicts. Where are the spiritual leaders and other community figures who championed justice during the 2020 BLM movement? The silence is not just disheartening; it raises questions about our collective conscience.
In our pursuit of progress, let’s not forget the responsibility that comes with knowledge and power. Americans must stand against injustice, irrespective of its origin. We implore our leaders, both spiritual and community-driven, to break their silence and engage in conversations with their respective communities and each others, that foster understanding, empathy, and liberation!
Sincerely,
Kelly Myers and Emma Abata
Peaceful protest held every Saturday, 11 a.m. at Ashley Pond.
