This Passover Young Jewish Americans are Organizing Against the Occupation

This morning, If Not Now DC leaders held this week’s first ‪#‎LiberationSeder, committing civil disobedience while blocking the doors of Hillel International’s headquarters.

Image via If Not Now

Hillel International has long excluded individuals and groups who criticize Israel from Jewish communities on campus and been a part of the maze of financing and social action that supports efforts to suppress and block pro-Palestine activism in the US. In response, these young leaders from If Not Now, a movement to end the American Jewish community’s support for the occupation, joined thousands of other young folks organizing across the country this Passover to take on the American Jewish establishment and it’s support of the occupation. Their efforts come a week after the Bernie Sanders campaign responded to Zionist establishment demands to suspend its young newly-hired Jewish outreach coordinator, Simone Zimmerman, over her social media posts criticizing the occupation.

That the most left-leaning presidential candidate this election is not ready to challenge Zionist support of the occupation speaks to why these actions are so urgently needed—and how much progressive America needs to move on the occupation. Thankfully, Simone and other young women like her are drawing on a long tradition of women – especially those who are Palestinian and most impacted – at the forefront of this organizing.

If Not Now activists are hosting a series of liberation seders in five cities this week to say “Dayenu! Enough,” and to make sure that the next U.S. president faces a powerful youth movement to end the occupation. Follow the efforts of other super rad young women like Simone here and sign their pledge here.

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