Tons of of demonstrators gathered in Westlake Park Saturday afternoon to mourn Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, a Seattle activist and up to date College of Washington graduate, after Israeli forces shot and killed her Friday morning at a protest in opposition to unlawful settlements within the occupied West Financial institution. As politicians, together with US Consultant Pramila Jayapal and US Senator Maria Cantwell, ship their condolences, pro-Palestine organizations, the Rachel Corrie Basis for Justice and Peace, and Eygi’s household demand motion. They need the US authorities to launch an impartial investigation and maintain her killers to account. Additional, to honor the killing of Eygi and greater than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, organizers requested supporters to maintain up the strain for an arms embargo, a ceasefire, and finally, for a free Palestine.
Eygi, 26, attended Seattle Public Colleges, Seattle Central Faculty, and he or she graduated from the College of Washington (UW) earlier this 12 months, with a bachelor’s diploma in psychology and a minor in center japanese languages and cultures.
Her household described Eygi as a “loving daughter, sister, companion, and aunt.”
“She was mild, courageous, foolish, supportive, and a ray of sunshine,” her household mentioned in a press release posted to social media. “She wore her coronary heart on her sleeves. She felt a deep accountability to serve others and dwell a lifetime of caring for these in want with motion. She was a fiercely passionate human rights activist her entire life—a steadfast and staunch advocate for justice.”
Eygi helped to arrange the UW encampment protest in opposition to Israel’s genocide, which finally received some concessions from the college’s administration and tuition for at the very least 20 college students from Gaza.
After commencement, Eygi traveled to the West Financial institution to volunteer with the Worldwide Solidarity Motion (ISM). In line with audio system on the Westlake rally, Israeli forces killed her simply three days after she arrived.
“Just like the olive tree she lay beneath the place she took her final breaths, Ayşenur was robust, stunning, and nourishing,” Eygi’s household’s assertion learn. “Her presence in our lives was taken needlessly, unlawfully, and violently by the Israeli army.”
On Friday, the White Home mentioned the US felt “deeply disturbed” by Eygi’s killing and referred to as for Israel to research. Eygi’s household mentioned an Israeli investigation wouldn’t suffice, and that the US should launch an impartial investigation.
“For the previous 11 months, now we have seen how the IDF has repeatedly proven an utter disdain for harmless life, whether or not in Gaza or within the West Financial institution,” Imraan Siddiqi, govt director of Washington State’s Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), mentioned in a press release.
In February, President Joe Biden warned Syria and Iran to anticipate a “response” in the event that they “harmed an American,” however Siddiqi mentioned the US authorities has “barely acknowledged” when Israel has killed People. In 2022, Israeli forces shot and killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, clearly marked as press whereas she lined a raid on a Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces additionally killed Furkan Dogan, a 19-year-old American aboard the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish humanitarian assist ship, in 2010.
And in 2003, an Israeli bulldozer operator crushed Olympia, WA resident Rachel Corrie to loss of life whereas she tried to dam them from destroying Palestinian properties in Gaza. Corrie’s dad and mom, Cindy and Craig Corrie, wrote in a press release Friday that the US authorities has been “unable, or unwilling” to carry these answerable for their daughter’s killing to account. “We have to do higher this time,” they wrote.
“It is extremely evident that the American authorities doesn’t care about its individuals. It is very evident that they’re prepared to sacrifice your life for his or her valuable Israel,” mentioned Akram Baioumy, the Imam at Muslim Affiliation of Puget Sound (MAPS) Seattle, on the Westlake rally.
However Eygi could have felt annoyed that her American citizenship alone garnered a lot consideration, as UW Assistant Professor Aria Fani, who taught Eygi center japanese languages and tradition, informed the Seattle Occasions. “We’ve turn out to be numb to Palestinian loss,” Fani mentioned.
Israeli forces have killed greater than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, wounded greater than 92,000, and displaced greater than 85% of the inhabitants since Oct 7. The Biden administration claims to need a ceasefire however refuses to enact an arms embargo to strain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the deal. On Thursday, Netanyahu mentioned, “There’s not a deal within the making.”
Baioumy urged the gang on Saturday afternoon to let Eygi’s loss of life encourage and additional their trigger for each an finish to the genocide and for Palestinian liberation extra broadly. He mentioned even in her last conversations, Eygi implored everybody to do extra to assist the Palestinian individuals.
In a gaggle prayer at Westlake Park, Baioumy mentioned, “Oh, Allah, let her blood not be spilled in useless. Let it’s a supply of awakening and energy for her neighborhood and for all who witness her braveness. Make her legacy a beacon of sunshine for individuals who proceed to battle for justice and peace.”
