Toward a Free Palestine: Resources to Act for and Learn About Palestine
As the genocidal attack on Gaza has led to tens of thousands of civilian deaths and counting, we reaffirm our ongoing solidarity with Palestinian liberation. We condemn the recent racist and Islamaphobic depictions of Palestinians in mainstream news media and the silence of many cultural, political, and educational institutions, which has led to the attack, censorship, and vilification of SWANA people across the US and Europe. In addition to partaking in BDS, Mizna will continue to support artists, writers, and filmmakers in making and presenting work which proposes political liberation and self determination. Decolonization is not a metaphor.
We are proud to present a list of resources to take action for and learn about Palestine, as well as works by Palestinian artists, writers, activists, and cultural workers.
Take action
Fast for Gaza
Support urgent relief efforts and grassroots fundraising for Gaza
Free Palestine Issue
Works by Palestinian artists, activists, and cultural workers
Solidarity Events by Mizna
Take action
Take to the streets: Check with your local chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and other SWANA-focused organizations for local protests and actions happening every day.
Contact your representatives: For US-based community members, use this basic call template from US Campaign for Palestinian Rights or this email template from Jewish Voice for Peace to quickly express your solidarity with Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire. For UK-based community members, use this template by Medical Aid for Palestinians to email your MP. For Canadians, use this call template to contact your MP. It takes less than five minutes!
Boycott Israeli Genocide and Apartheid: Reject Israeli funding, refuse collaborations with all Israeli institutions, and take part in the BDS movement.
Support colleagues who speak out: Community members across the US and Europe are being silenced, vilified, and attacked for supporting Palestinian liberation or for merely being of SWANA descent. Stand with your community members!
Fast for Gaza
Fast for Gaza extends a global invitation to people of all faiths, and those who adhere to none, to abstain from food for one day in solidarity with the people of Gaza, and to break the fast together at sunset. The fast will continue every Thursday until a permanent ceasefire is called.
The campaign started on December 21, 2023 and continues to take place every Thursday until a permanent ceasefire is called.
Learn more and become a signatory
Support urgent relief efforts and grassroots fundraising for Gaza
Send donations to this mutual aid campaign in Gaza, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Medical Aid for Palestine, and The Palestinian Social Fund.
Free Palestine Issue
A digital version of our sold-out Palestine Issue guest-edited by Ismail Khalidi is now available to download for free.
Works by Palestinian artists, activists, and cultural workers
Solidarity events by Mizna
Insurgent Transmissions is a film series highlighting the varied Palestinian experience. Made by contemporary Palestinian makers, the films depict the many ways that Palestinians resist occupation in their daily lives and filmmaking practices.
This monthly series is presented by Mizna at Bryant Lake Bowl April–July 2024. Ticket fees go towards supporting the featured Palestinian filmmakers, sliding scale of $5–15. Additional opportunities to support urgent grassroots fundraisers in Gaza will be available at the screening.
Mizna is pleased to co-sponsor the presentation of Violence and the Shifting Politics of Knowledge Production in the Middle East, a two-day symposium taking place at the University of Minnesota featuring presentations on Palestinian liberation, gender, sexuality, and women’s rights solidarity activism, as well as poetry, music, and art.
This symposium will take place May 6–7 2024 at Walter Library, 117 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 and Regis Center for Art, 405 21st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55455 on the University of Minnesota campus.
PAST
Join us for Palestine Is a Feminist Issue, March 8, 6 pm at Moon Palace BooksWith Professor Sima Shakhsari and Minneapolis Councilmember Robin Wonsley. Organized by FLAGS-JP, co-presented by Mizna.
Entry is free and open to the public.
This March, we welcome Palestinian American poet Fady Joudah as he launches his urgent and essential sixth collection of poems titled, […], published by Milkweed Editions. […] was written during the current daily erasure of Palestinians and insists on presence inside and outside the ancestral land. The event will be moderated by Palestinian American poet and Mizna executive editor George Abraham.
When: March 6, 2024 at 6pm CT
Where: Online, link via RSVP
Mizna copresents a rare 16mm screening of the documentary Gaza Ghetto
What: Screening of GAZA GHETTO (Dir. Joan Mandell, PeA Holmquist, and Pierre Bjorklund, 1985, 82 mins)
When: Feb. 22 at 6pm
Where: 10 Church St. SE, Room 100, Minneapolis 55455
This evening is presented with FLAGS JP at the University of Minnesota and awtt.haaus.
Mizna presents a Los Angeles reading and fundraiser for Gaza. This event benefits the Middle East Children’s Alliance’s initiatives in Gaza and features readings from Safia Elhillo, Randa Jarrar, Deena Falconetti, Lameece Issaq, Jessica Abughattas, Maha Chehlaoui, Sara Yanni, and Phonodelica. Presented with Kaya Press.
When: February 17, 2024 at 7pm, doors at 6:30pm
Where: 2220 Arts + Archives, 2220 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
RSVP Here
Entrance is free, please direct all donations for Gaza here.
This Valentine’s Day, show your love for Palestine at an art sale + fundraiser for Gaza presented by Mizna and Baba’s Hummus House & Mana’eesh Bakery. From 6–9pm, all food sales from Baba’s Cafe as well as all proceeds from locally made posters, pins, and other art will go to the Middle East Children’s Alliance’s (MECA) Hot Meals for Gaza Initiative.
What: Art sale + fundraiser for Gaza
When: February 14, 2024, 6–9pm
Where: Baba’s Hummus House & Mana’eesh Bakery, 2220 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Mizna welcomes Gazan poet Yahya Ashour to the Twin Cities for a reading and conversation with local writer Sun Yung Shin. After the reading, the artists will engage in a discussion and audience Q&A, followed by a reception catered by Shish. Doors will open at 6 PM, and the event will begin at 6:30 PM with a reception to follow. Suggested donation $10, all proceeds will go to Yahya Ashour, a Gazan poet who is currently stranded in the US.
As part of programming associated with the installation Bear Witness: Honoring Gaza’s Martyrs, join us for a screening of When I Saw You by Annemarie Jacir.
This year, Yalda, the winter solstice festival celebrated across Iran, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the SWANA region, takes place as Gaza faces over two months of genocide. As part of programming associated with the installation Bear Witness: Honoring Gaza’s Martyrs, join us for an evening of Iranian and Afghan solidarity with Palestine to mark the winter solstice and raise money for Gaza. Featuring art and food from local artists, all sales will go to support the Gaza Mutual Aid Solidarity Campaign which has been sending direct aid to displaced & distressed families in Gaza to meet their basic needs during these catastrophic times. More info
As part of programming associated with the installation Bear Witness: Honoring Gaza’s Martyrs, Leila Awadallah will perform a solo dance performance titled YISSH (Yalla Imshi, Shway Shway Habibi). Leila will give a brief talk following the performance.
When: December 19, 2023 at 7pm
Where: Public Functionary, Northrup King #247, 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Accessibility: The gallery is ADA accessible
More info
As part of programming associated with the installation Bear Witness: Honoring Gaza’s Martyrs, join us for a screening of Foragers by Jumana Manna.
When: December 16, 2023 at 6pm
Where: Public Functionary, Northrup King #247, 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Accessibility: The gallery is ADA accessible. The film is in Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles.
More info
Learn about the printmaking process while making letterpress posters and stamp postcards for Palestine. With print designs by Lamia Abukhadra, Andrea Shaker, and Jamie Kubat.
Drop in anytime on December 14, 2023, 5–7pm at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Avenue S, Minneapolis.
This event is presented by Mizna and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.
What: Sound and spatial installation honoring the martyrs of Gaza with an opening gathering and poetry reading
Opening Event: Dec 8, 2023 at 6–8pm, Poetry Reading at 7pm
Viewing Hours: Dec 7–9 and Dec 14–16, noon–6pm. Additional hours and programming to be announced.
Where: Public Functionary #247, 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
November 29, 2023: Solidarity Evening for Palestine
Four arts organizations join together to take part in the on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with a reading of The Gaza Monologues and a screening of The Dupes.
When: November 29, 2023 at 6:30pm
Where: The Heights Theater, 3951 Central Avenue Northeast Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Tickets + more info
November 2, 2023: Screening + Fundraiser for Gaza
On the somber anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, observed on November 2nd, and in an effort to amplify Palestinian voices, we are screening Gaza Surf Club directed by Mickey Yamine and Philip Gnadt at 8:00 p.m. at Trylon Cinema in Minneapolis. The screening is free of charge.
Donate to Beirut Art Center here
WHAT: Solidarity screening and fundraiser for Gaza
WHERE: Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
WHEN: Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 8pm
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