For my friends, neighbors and community working within Reproductive Justice–
What happens (and what has been happening) in Palestine and Gaza directly impacts us, our work and our communities.
Our grief, trauma and loss is collective.
Our grief, trauma and loss is shared.
Palestinian Liberation is a necessary part of Reproductive Justice.
“SisterSong defines Reproductive Justice as the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.”
We recognize that families are unable to maintain personal bodily autonomy, self-determination and/or raise their children and loved ones in safe and sustainable communities amidst displacement, airstrikes, military occupation, ongoing colonization, imperialism, lack of food, water, electricity, aid, medical supplies–and genocide.
We do not get to look away from the undeniable and reckless mass-slaughter of Palestinian Peoples at the hands of the Israeli government--funded, backed and fueled by the US government. Since October 7th alone, we’ve lost over 18,000 Palestinian relatives with over 6,000 being our children. We've also born witness to the following:
- Our kids hosting press conferences in their second language pleading with the world
- To simply live like other kids get to live
- Parents forced to give birth without medical staff, anesthesia, aid or supplies
- Parents giving birth in over-crowded schools, shelters, surrounded by rubble, amidst bomb strikes
- Babies in NICUs left to decompose and decay
- Parents and families forced to leave their newborns without a proper goodbye
- Little to no access to menstrual products and care
- Forced Separation and displacement from one's land and families
- Rates of health infections climbing and increasing
- Basics needed for survival like food, water, electricity and shelter are unavailable/inaccessible
- Families and neighbors searching for one another beneath the rubble, amidst the airstrikes
- Families burying their own children, parents, and grandparents
As folks working in Reproductive Justice (and especially those of us in RJ education), we do not get to look away from this genocide. "It's a season of unmasking, of veils lifted. We are seeing our collective soul with a clarity that is disorienting."
- Cole Arthur Riley
These are our relatives. Our kids. Our communities who are being martyred.
We do not get to look away. We have a responsibility to actively bear witness and to hear their cries.
Palestinian Liberation concerns and impacts all of us.
Those of us who work in Reproductive Justice, we know that our struggles are interconnected.
We know that our communities, especially our youth, deserve the right to choice, self-determination and bodily autonomy.
We know that our neighbors and relatives, both here in the US and globally, deserve to LIVE (in safe and sustainable communities).
We denounce colonization, imperialism and genocide in all forms, against all peoples, across all lands.
We also support oppressed peoples' right to self-determine and resist against their oppressors.
In any way they see fit. And by any means necessary.
We firmly denounce the actions of the US government and the Israeli Government.
We demand for an immediate ceasefire.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.
