What Does “Free Palestine” Really Mean?
“Free Palestine” has become one of the most recognizable political slogans in the world, but what does it actually mean?
Celebrities like Macklemore and Zach Bryan have used their concerts and platforms to amplify this message to enormous audiences, often without acknowledging the very different meanings attached to those words.
Journalist @jtilch has discussed this before. Behind what may sound like a simple call for freedom is a slogan that can carry a far more troubling meaning. When artists irresponsibly amplify it without confronting what it can represent, they help normalize rhetoric that has repeatedly accompanied hostility and even violence against Jews.
Words matter, especially when millions of people are listening.
“Free Palestine” has become one of the most recognizable political slogans in the world, but what does it actually mean?
Celebrities like Macklemore and Zach Bryan have used their concerts and platforms to amplify this message to enormous audiences, often without acknowledging the very different meanings attached to those words.
Journalist @jtilch has discussed this before. Behind what may sound like a simple call for freedom is a slogan that can carry a far more troubling meaning. When artists irresponsibly amplify it without confronting what it can represent, they help normalize rhetoric that has repeatedly accompanied hostility and even violence against Jews.
Words matter, especially when millions of people are listening.
Israel’s national team will wear black armbands during tonight’s match against Ireland in memory of those murdered in the October 7 massacre.
Sport has the power to bring people together across borders, cultures, and differences. Tonight, it will also provide a moment to remember the innocent lives so brutally taken.
Israel’s national team will wear black armbands during tonight’s match against Ireland in memory of those murdered in the October 7 massacre.
Sport has the power to bring people together across borders, cultures, and differences. Tonight, it will also provide a moment to remember the innocent lives so brutally taken.
This is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about how Ireland is choosing to conduct itself in spaces meant to bring people together.
Whether in sports, arts, or culture, Israelis should be treated with the same dignity, respect, and fairness as everyone else. Attempting to silence an Israeli journalist for asking a legitimate question about the Irish team’s conduct (especially like this) is completely unacceptable.
Sports and culture should build bridges, and Ireland does not seem to know the meaning of this.
This is deeply troubling and raises serious questions about how Ireland is choosing to conduct itself in spaces meant to bring people together.
Whether in sports, arts, or culture, Israelis should be treated with the same dignity, respect, and fairness as everyone else. Attempting to silence an Israeli journalist for asking a legitimate question about the Irish team’s conduct (especially like this) is completely unacceptable.
Sports and culture should build bridges, and Ireland does not seem to know the meaning of this.
Zach Bryan took the stage at Gillette Stadium wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt emblazoned with the “Appeal to Heaven” flag — a symbol the Southern Poverty Law Center has described as “the flag of Christian supremacy.”
Once a Revolutionary-era symbol of resistance to tyranny, the flag has been adopted by Christian dominionist movements that seek to place government and major institutions under Christian authority. It was also prominently displayed among those attempting to overturn the 2020 election and at the January 6 Capitol attack. SPLC describes it today as a powerful symbol within Christian-supremacist and anti-government politics.
While in Revolutionary war times it meant “when earthly authority becomes tyrannical, appeal to God and resist”; in the modern interpretation it is used now, it means “America must be restored to divinely mandated Christian rule, even when existing political institutions stand in the way.”
It is more important than ever that the world wakes up to the hatred and extremism being normalized under the banner of “Free Palestine.”
Zach Bryan took the stage at Gillette Stadium wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt emblazoned with the “Appeal to Heaven” flag — a symbol the Southern Poverty Law Center has described as “the flag of Christian supremacy.”
Once a Revolutionary-era symbol of resistance to tyranny, the flag has been adopted by Christian dominionist movements that seek to place government and major institutions under Christian authority. It was also prominently displayed among those attempting to overturn the 2020 election and at the January 6 Capitol attack. SPLC describes it today as a powerful symbol within Christian-supremacist and anti-government politics.
While in Revolutionary war times it meant “when earthly authority becomes tyrannical, appeal to God and resist”; in the modern interpretation it is used now, it means “America must be restored to divinely mandated Christian rule, even when existing political institutions stand in the way.”
It is more important than ever that the world wakes up to the hatred and extremism being normalized under the banner of “Free Palestine.”
This clip says it all.
During a screening of the NAZA documentary in the Netherlands, Sabine Taasa spoke about the murder of her husband and son by Hamas terrorists. Instead of being met with compassion, members of the audience shouted, “We don’t care. We don’t want to hear it.”
No survivor should be treated this way simply for sharing what happened to their family. This is truly vile and disgraceful.
This clip says it all.
During a screening of the NAZA documentary in the Netherlands, Sabine Taasa spoke about the murder of her husband and son by Hamas terrorists. Instead of being met with compassion, members of the audience shouted, “We don’t care. We don’t want to hear it.”
No survivor should be treated this way simply for sharing what happened to their family. This is truly vile and disgraceful.
Millions of parents trust Ms. Rachel. That trust comes with responsibility.
The suffering of children in Gaza is real and deserves compassion. But compassion cannot come at the expense of accuracy.
Images of severely malnourished children were shared with millions as evidence of starvation, while important medical context about many of those children was omitted.
Children deserve better than to have their suffering used for your own political purposes.
Millions of parents trust Ms. Rachel. That trust comes with responsibility.
The suffering of children in Gaza is real and deserves compassion. But compassion cannot come at the expense of accuracy.
Images of severely malnourished children were shared with millions as evidence of starvation, while important medical context about many of those children was omitted.
Children deserve better than to have their suffering used for your own political purposes.
These celebrities have been among the loudest voices when it comes to Israel, Israelis and the war in Gaza. Yet more than 24 hours after Israelis were targeted in a terrorist hijacking, there has been nothing.
If your activism disappears the moment Israelis are the victims, perhaps it was never about human rights in the first place.
These celebrities have been among the loudest voices when it comes to Israel, Israelis and the war in Gaza. Yet more than 24 hours after Israelis were targeted in a terrorist hijacking, there has been nothing.
If your activism disappears the moment Israelis are the victims, perhaps it was never about human rights in the first place.
We at Creative Community for Peace are relieved that all passengers aboard the hijacked FlyDubai flight are safe and making their way home.
A potentially devastating terror attack was averted thanks to the extraordinary bravery and quick actions of the passengers and crew on board.
There is a beloved Israeli tradition of applauding when a plane lands. After everything these passengers endured, we can’t think of a more fitting reason to applaud. 🇮🇱❤️
We at Creative Community for Peace are relieved that all passengers aboard the hijacked FlyDubai flight are safe and making their way home.
A potentially devastating terror attack was averted thanks to the extraordinary bravery and quick actions of the passengers and crew on board.
There is a beloved Israeli tradition of applauding when a plane lands. After everything these passengers endured, we can’t think of a more fitting reason to applaud. 🇮🇱❤️
