Citizens of the world. My name is Shakaboona. I am one of America’s 2000 children serving a death by incarceration prison sentence at the Department of Corrections in Pennsylvania, United States of America, and I am a human rights activist and organizer within the belly of the beast. We, in America, stand in solid support of our fellow Palestinian men, women, and children who are confined in Israel’s prisons, undergoing torture, abuse, inhumane and degrading treatment simply for resisting Israel’s apartheid system and military occupation. We, in America, stand in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners Hafez Omar, Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahmad Saeed, [names unclear] and the 1500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. We know that your hunger is resistance, so do what you must to gain freedom and dignity from your oppressors.
We, in America, know of the Israeli apartheid regime’s crimes against humanity and war crimes of Palestinians. Israel’s crimes have been well documented in the recent UN commission report “Israeli Practices toward the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid.” We, in America, haven’t forgotten the struggle of Palestine, just like we haven’t forgotten the struggle of Black Americans, as the goal of our struggles are the same — freedom and dignity. The world is aware of the seriousness of your current situation. We see you. We hear your voices. In this context, we call for the global citizens to increase their demonstrations against the Israeli apartheid regime, to redouble our efforts to economically divest from Israel, to demand an end to Israel’s apartheid system and military occupation of Palestine, and to demand that Palestinian prisoners be treated with dignity and respect and be provided family visits, health care, and education.
“Only ending occupation will end this injustice and mark the birth of peace,” says Marwan [Barghouti]. Free Palestine prisoners. End occupation of Palestine and free the land. Long live the Palestinian struggle. From the belly of the beast and Prison Radio, I am Shakaboona. Thank you for listening.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
