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Thursday, May 20, 2021

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Hundreds march in Dearborn in support of Palestinians

A few thousand Detroit and 

Dearborn residents gathered to 
rally against Israeli airstrikes 
and evictions of Palestinians 
Saturday afternoon. Organized 
by 
the 
Palestinian 
Youth 

Movement 
and 
endorsed 
by 

the Party for Socialism and 
Liberation – Detroit, protesters 
of all ages marched through the 
streets of Dearborn with chants 
of “Free Palestine!” and “From 
the river to the sea, Palestine will 
be free!”

Demonstrators 
waved 

Palestinian flags of all sizes, 
along with many signs with the 
hashtag “#SaveSheikJarrah.” The 
group expressed vocal outrage at 
what they perceived as support 
for Israel and inaction on behalf 
of the Biden administration.

Beginning 
at 
the 
Arab 

American National Museum, the 
crowd listened to speeches from 
various organizers and activists 
calling for the end to American 
military investment in Israel, 
through 
a 
movement 
known 

as 
Boycott, 
Divestment 
and 

Sanctions (BDS).

The group marched, biked, and 

drove down Michigan Avenue, 
with many bystanders showing 
their support as they passed by, 
sometimes waving flags of their 
own. When the protest entered 
the 
neighborhood 
streets 
of 

Dearborn, some residents stood 
on 
their 
porches 
expressing 

support, and others even joined 
the march. 

The 
protesters 
blocked 

westbound 
traffic, 
marching 

down the M-153 highway, and 
the group halted under a bridge, 
where organizers hung flags 

from the overpass.

Ultimately, the group gathered 

outside 
the 
Dearborn 
Police 

Department, where organizers 
voiced their support for the Black 
Lives Matter movement, drawing 
connections 
between 
Black 

Americans’ 
struggle 
against 

systemic racism and the push for 
Palestinian liberation.

As the protesters left the 

Dearborn 
Police 
Department, 

some planted small Palestinian 
flags in the grass with the names 
of Black people killed by police 
written on them, including those 
of George Floyd and Breonna 
Taylor.

Once the group returned to 

the Arab American National 
Museum, organizers gave a few 
final speeches and ended with 
a call to action to come out to 
protest Joe Biden’s upcoming 
visit to the Ford Rouge Electric 
Vehicle Center on Tuesday, May 
18.

 JARETT ORR

Daily Staff Photographer

MULTIMEDIA

