Pro-Palestine Rally in Tampa Echoes with Calls for Freedom
The streets of downtown Tampa were filled with the sound of chants and flags waving high as about 200 people gathered outside City Hall on Friday evening to march in support of Palestine. The diverse coalition of Muslim and non-Muslim organizations came together to voice their solidarity with Palestinians both abroad and at home in Tampa Bay.
Organized by Aida Mackic, the demonstration included activists from groups such as Resistance of Tampa Bay, Dream Defenders, Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida, and Tampa Bay Community Action Committee. The recent assault by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, prompted the Israeli government to declare war, leading to a total death toll of at least 3,100 people on both sides.
Speakers at the event highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, with Mackic describing it as a “living hell on steroids” for the 2 million Palestinians living in the area. The ongoing military occupation and violence have left many Palestinians feeling trapped and seeking freedom.
The rally also addressed the spread of misinformation on social media regarding the conflict, with many calling for a more accurate portrayal of the situation. Dyma AbuOleim, founder of 200 Muslim Women Who Care, criticized the inadequate response from Tampa Bay and Florida officials, urging them to acknowledge the Palestinian victims of Israeli aggression.
While Florida politicians have shown support for Israel, with Governor Ron DeSantis declaring a state of emergency and ordering the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to be lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag, protesters like Laura Rodriguez of the “Tampa 5” group called for an end to U.S. aid funding Israeli apartheid.
The march in Tampa comes on the heels of a recent demonstration in Temple Terrace where tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters led to arrests. The voices of those advocating for peace and justice in the region continue to be heard in Tampa Bay and beyond.