🍉 VanGran4Pal Community Newsletter

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**Neighbours and Friends, **

Sometimes it’s hard to find words to begin this little newsletter. Somedays we’re speechless/enraged/heartbroken over what the people of Gaza are being made to suffer day-after-day. That it is unbearable to witness and beyond comprehension at least means our hearts are still beating for humanity.

In the words of Cole Arthur Riley: “whatever powerlessness I feel today is by design. That as long as there is Palestinian breath in Gaza, we really cannot afford to submit to the cynicism that tells us nothing can stop these massacres.”

Let’s take one more step and one more step in solidarity with Palestine. **See you at the VanGran4Pal supported rally on Saturday, Oct 26th, 2pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery. **We won’t give up.

Action Updates

New QR Code for the Newsletter

Please use our new QR Code to share the newsletter with folks you meet or direct them to tinyurl.com/vangrannewsletter.

Join the VanGran4Pal Band

VanGran4Palestine has a band, and the VanGran band is for community and fun in our shared solidarity. The band holds regular sessions every few weeks and would like to grow to have multiple players of each instrument and vocalists that are available interchangeably for different events. There is also an opportunity to write lyrics to covers with an advocacy theme, or join others in collaborating on originals. Everyone is welcome to join in the playing sessions in any capacity that you would like to or are able to, whether that looks like coming to hang out or sing, or playing a song or two.

If you would like to be a part of this community that combines music with advocacy, and promote and play for fundraisers for Palestine, please join the group chat using this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jy2HHCy0UCdDDdTvNXHWSq

Calendar for Local Palestine Solidarity Events

A reminder that you can learn about upcoming local events by checking the Vancouver area Palestine-related events calendar. Click here.

Upcoming Events

From Jabalia to Beirut, Art Gallery Rally - Oct 26

Saturday, Oct 26, 2pm

Vancouver Art Gallery

VANCOUVER: UNITED AGAINST GENOCIDEOver one year of Western-backed genocide against our people in Gaza at the hands of the Zionist entity. As our people stand steadfast against an ever-expanding ethnic cleansing campaign from Gaza to Lebanon, with intensifying violence in North Gaza.We stand united against the coordinated, US-backed and institutional crackdown on those of us in the Palestinian solidarity movement. “Canada” is trying to shut down any dissent against its complicity in Israel’s war crimes, and we are here to say: not in our name, we will not be intimidated.

Fundraiser for Gaza - Oct 26

Saturday, Oct 26. 4-9pm

**Massy Arts Society, 23 E Pender St, VancouverTickets available at **arabsvan.ca

Join us for an intimate market experience with live music, raffles and lots of fun surprises! Together we will help families from Gaza rebuild their lives.

VanBike4Palestine Bike Rally - Oct 27

Sunday, Oct 27

Meet @ Science World: 12:30pmLeave: 1pmReturn: ~3pm

Sunday’s ride will happen rain or shine - dress accordingly!

Freedom of movement is fundamental to freedom. Every oppressive colonial force throughout history has used force to restrict movement. Gazans - many of whom are refugees of the 1948 Nakba - have been locked in an open air prison for 17 years, and occupied for 59 more. Palestinians elsewhere in the occupied territories have long been subject to checkpoints, tiered citizenship, wanton destruction of their transportation infrastructure, and forced removal from their homes.VanBike4Palestine rides in solidarity with the @gazasunbirds and every Palestinian whose freedom of movement is controlled by the Israeli military occupation.

Support UBC Staff 4 Pal’s Motion - Oct 29

Association of Administrative and Professional Staff at UBC - Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, Oct 29, 12-1:30 pm

**Register **here

UBC M&P Staff! AAPS members are putting forward a motion to demand that AAPS advocate against and act to end UBC's complicity in human rights violation. Join us to vote and help pass this motion! Link to sign-up for AGM through QR code in picture above and in instagram bio. We'd love to know if you're going to be speaking in support at the meeting! Email staff4palestine@proton.me.

Virtual Event: Ireland to Palestine - Oct 30

Wednesday, Oct 30, 2-3.30 pm PST

**Zoom registration **here

Join us for a report back from a historic Palestinian delegation to the north of Ireland, where organizers got to share experiences of resisting colonization and state violence, strategies and tactics for the homeland and diaspora, the strength and leadership of political prisoners, and how to hold pain and grief while remaining steadfast in the struggle.

Hosted by the Bloody Sunday Trust, our delegates included representatives from the Adalah Justice Project, Arab Resource and Organizing Project, Hospitality for Humanity, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Honor the Earth, Community Movement Builders, Palestinian Youth Movement - both Britain and U.S. leaders, Palestinian Feminist Collective, National Students for Justice in Palestine and 18 Million Rising.

Live captioning provided.

Divestment Action: CPP Public Meeting - Nov 4

Monday, Nov 4, 6-7 pm

Fairmont Vancouver

**Register for the public meeting **here

Join @retiredteachersdivestbc to confront the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) about our 16 Billion investment in Israel’s war crimes & genocide. Register to attend and/or email questions! Link in bio.

Community Spotlight

Moving Towards Home by June Jordan, 1982

“Where is Abu Fadi,” she wailed.“Who will bring me my loved one?”—The New York Times, 9/20/1982

I do not wish to speak about the bulldozer and thered dirtnot quite covering all of the arms and legsNor do I wish to speak about the nightlong screamsthat reachedthe observation posts where soldiers lounged aboutNor do I wish to speak about the woman who shovedher babyinto the stranger’s hands before she was led awayNor do I wish to speak about the father whose sonswere shotthrough the head while they slit his own throat beforethe eyesof his wifeNor do I wish to speak about the army that lit continuousflares into the darkness so that the others could seethe backs of their victims lined against the wallNor do I wish to speak about the piled up bodies andthe stenchthat will not floatNor do I wish to speak about the nurse again andagain rapedbefore they murdered her on the hospital floorNor do I wish to speak about the rattling bullets thatdid nothalt on that keening trajectoryNor do I wish to speak about the pounding on thedoors andthe breaking of windows and the hauling of families intothe world of the deadI do not wish to speak about the bulldozer and thered dirtnot quite covering all of the arms and legsbecause I do not wish to speak about unspeakable eventsthat must follow from those who dare“to purify” a peoplethose who dare“to exterminate” a peoplethose who dareto describe human beings as “beasts with two legs”those who dare“to mop up”“to tighten the noose”“to step up the military pressure”“to ring around” civilian streets with tanksthose who dareto close the universitiesto abolish the pressto kill the elected representativesof the people who refuse to be purifiedthose are the ones from whom we must redeemthe words of our beginning

because I need to speak about homeI need to speak about living roomwhere the land is not bullied and beaten toa tombstoneI need to speak about living roomwhere the talk will take place in my languageI need to speak about living roomwhere my children will grow without horrorI need to speak about living room where the menof my family between the ages of six and sixty-fiveare notmarched into a roundup that leads to the graveI need to talk about living roomwhere I can sit without grief without wailing aloudfor my loved oneswhere I must not ask where is Abu Fadibecause he will be there beside meI need to talk about living roombecause I need to talk about home

I was born a Black womanand nowI am become a Palestinianagainst the relentless laughter of evilthere is less and less living roomand where are my loved ones?

It is time to make our way home.

Contribute to the Newsletter

Do you have something you would like to share with your neighbours? We welcome submissions of all kinds — stories, poems, art, and event info. Simply reply to this email to send in your contribution.

Forward to a Friend

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With gratitude and in solidarity,

Your Neighbours

Van Gran 4 Palestine

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