The chain of solidarity

Friday afternoon I was in Jerusalem, following one of the current EAs in various parts of the city. We went first to Silwan, the Palestinian neighborhood located just below the City of David archeological site and, therefore, under constant threat of demolition; its population has now organized peaceful weekly protests. Then, I attended the Women in Black’s vigil during which the same small group of Israeli women was standing patiently facing a pretty high level of verbal violence. Finally, I went to Sheikh Jarrah to witness the weekly protest of the Solidarity Movement. Each of these spots in the city represents one element of the same struggle “…towards civil equality within Israel and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.” (see site of the Solidarity Movement: http://www.en.justjlm.org/)

More than a year later, everyone is in the same exact place, holding the same signs, chanting the same slogans. I came and left and came again; they stayed! What right do I have to be there? This is not my struggle, no? What right do I have to stand next to all of them? And then, I leave anyway!

At the end of the Women in Black’s vigil, each one of the women who have been participating in this vigil for more than 20 years thanked me: “Thank you for coming, thank you for your help!” Their generosity moves me; I wasn’t even wearing black! And yet, they are reminding me that I am part of a long, long chain of solidarity… and it matters to them.