As a well being care researcher specializing in traumatic harm, I see hospital sufferers with burns, amputations, traumatic mind accidents, and spinal twine accidents. During the last eight months, I’ve felt a lot ethical horror and unhappiness that US bombs, funded by my tax {dollars}, are dropping on Palestinians and inflicting these very accidents. A couple of thousand kids have misplaced limbs. Fathers have suffered traumatic mind accidents from bombs exploding and buildings collapsing. Moms have burns over their total physique. It’s an excessive amount of to witness.
I really feel powerlessness and cognitive dissonance; whereas I’m at work caring for sufferers and researching how you can forestall traumatic accidents, US tax {dollars} and weapons are inflicting these exact same traumatic accidents in Palestine. The dimensions of traumatic harm and incapacity ensuing from US weapons and funds to Israel is overwhelming, alongside the truth that the Israeli navy has killed greater than 36,000 Palestinians in what the Worldwide Felony Court docket calls a “believable” case of genocide.
Many individuals, together with myself, really feel powerless to curb the US’s position in facilitating violence in Palestine. We signal petitions. We march within the streets. We block roads. We begin encampments on college campuses. We name our senators. Nothing modifications. The weapons and cash maintain flowing.
I assume we’re used to this–political representatives appearing in methods we don’t like, and even in methods we deplore. That isn’t new. Nevertheless, the subsequent cease doesn’t should be political apathy. As a substitute, it’s an invite to construct collective energy. You can begin small. Small actions can accumulate and encourage others; every small particular person or group motion is us operating our part of the relay, passing the baton to the subsequent individual or group. Possibly this small motion will encourage that subsequent individual to affix a protest, be taught extra in regards to the points, and get energetic.
That’s why on Saturday, June 1, 2024, I disrupted Vice President Kamala Harris’s Seattle fundraiser by standing up in the course of the occasion and asking her, “When will you cease sending weapons to Israel?”
I participated on this disruption for 4 causes. First, Vice President Harris is second in command under the President. Wherever she goes, we have to remind her that many US voters are horrified by US weapons and funds facilitating violence in Palestine. At present, 70% of seemingly voters assist a everlasting ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza, and the plurality suppose we should always lower navy assist to Israel.
Second, I hoped my query would proceed shining a lightweight on the Biden administration’s equivocations about when they’ll cease sending weapons to Israel. For instance, the Israeli navy lately dropped US-made, Boeing bombs on a refugee camp in Rafah. The “tent bloodbath” killed 45 folks and injured greater than 200. In early Could, President Biden stated, “In the event that they [Israeli military] go into Rafah, I’m not going to be supplying the weapons.” Nevertheless, the Biden administration is now backpedaling and claiming that the present invasion into Rafah is a “restricted” operation, not an “all-out assault.” I consider the Biden administration is posturing and has no intent of stopping navy funds or weapons shipments to Israel.
Third, I puzzled if Vice President Harris would say one thing on the file. Possibly one thing concrete that may get consideration and drive extra inside battle or dialogue inside the Biden administration. However, alas, as a seasoned politician, she simply stated, “Thanks, I’m talking now.”
Lastly, I knew that disrupting this speech was not by itself going to vary Vice President Harris’s views or conduct in relation to the violence in Palestine. However I assumed that possibly you’d change. Vice President Harris was the primary occasion, and also you have been the viewers. We captured a brief video of the disruption, hoping it could get a number of thousand views. The Instagram video reached ~224,000 accounts and was considered ~469,000 occasions. I used to be shocked. Extra importantly, I felt affirmed–that many individuals noticed our motion, which suggests they’re fascinated about what’s occurring in Palestine. Possibly this motion was the baton go that another person wanted.
And to be clear, I’m not a seasoned activist. You can do that. You can do that, and we did this (one other individual participated within the disruption with me) as a result of we did it as a group. Our group spent hours prepping: speaking via the plan, assessing dangers, learning comparable occasions in different components of the nation, working towards getting booed (as a result of we anticipated that from different attendees), getting ready press releases, getting ready jail assist within the unlikely occasion we have been arrested, and extra. This was not an impulsive solo occasion. I’m emphasizing this as a result of there’s a position for everybody. Contemplate this your invitation. It’s only via collective motion and organizing that we will construct the world we wish and cease the violence perpetrated by our elected representatives.
Some voters are involved that protesting the Biden administration like we did will improve the probability of a Trump presidency: youthful voters in swing states could also be swayed to not vote for Biden, resulting in a Trump presidency, which might be worse for US civil rights and for Palestinians. My response: I hear and perceive the very actual worry of one other Trump presidency. I’m not naive about that danger, AND we nonetheless want to talk out when the present US administration is facilitating unthinkable violence in Palestine, or any nation.
Moreover, if the Biden administration loses the 2024 election, will probably be as a result of the Democratic social gathering didn’t ship insurance policies and actions that voters wished. Let’s not blame progressives for the Democratic social gathering’s losses. If the Democratic social gathering can’t win elections, it’s as a result of they’re not doing a great job listening to voters. As an illustration, the violence in Palestine just isn’t a fringe progressive concern. Within the presidential main, a whole lot of 1000’s of Democrats—together with these in key swing states like Michigan—voted “undecided” or “uncommitted” to protest the Biden administration’s perpetuation of the violence in Palestine. These “uncommitted” votes tried to incentivize behavior-change from Biden. Biden didn’t change his conduct. I don’t know what number of of these “uncommitted” voters will vote for Biden within the basic election. My sense is that some won’t if the Biden administration retains facilitating the violence in Palestine.
However after I took a deep breath and stood up from my seat within the decadent ballroom at Vice President Harris’s fundraiser, I hoped that my motion can be one small drop in a rising stream of collective motion.
Vice President Harris and President Biden, you may cease the circulate of weapons and funds to Israel proper now. You’ve got the last word lever for ending this genocide in Palestine. Cease the circulate of weapons now.
Arin Flaster is a well being care researcher specializing in psychological well being and traumatic harm. Arin has labored in well being care analysis for 10 years and has been concerned in analysis on childhood/adolescent trauma, spinal twine harm, persistent ache, well being companies, and different long-term well being situations. Arin has lived in Seattle for 10 years.
