Shreya Vijay Chavan
During the last day of Ramadan, Muslim protestors chanted Death to America and Israel in Michigan.
During the International AL Quds Day rally in Dearborn, Michigan. Protestors started to chant ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’. The rally took place on the last day of Ramadan. It took place in the most Muslim population area in the city.
Tarek Bazzi, a Michigan-based activist associated with Hardy Institute, was actively participating in the rally. As per Fox News, Referring to the situation in Gaza he said, “It’s the United States government that provides the funds for all of the atrocities.”
He added that “Death to Israel has become the most logical chant shouted across the world today.” Referring to American President Joe Biden Bazzi said, “It’s not genocide Joe that has to go… It’s time the entire system has to go.”, “Any system that would allow such atrocities and devilry to happen and would support such system- does not deserve to exist on God’s earth.”
In his 2024 Quds Day rally speech, Bazin quoted Malcolm X saying, “We live in one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this earth.”
As per memri.org, It is said that Tarek Bazzi slammed American Muslim leaders by his words for condemning chants of Death to America. It happened during his speech.
Quds Day is officially known as International Quds Day. It is an annual pro-Palestinian event held on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel and Zionism.
The event was first held in 1979 in Iran. It was started by Ruhollah Khomeini. Critics of Quds Day argue that it is antisemitic. It is not the first time people participating in the rally have chanted such slogans. It has happened before in Iran several times.
Bazzi’s speech was followed by remarks from Michigan Iman Usama Abdulghani. Abdulghani called Israel an “evil settler colonialist project”, and a “cancer”. He said, “Israel is ISIS, they are Nazis, they are fascists, they are racists… The people of the world know this now.”
Protesters participating in the rally were also heard chanting, “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea.” It is a controversial phrase classified as “hate” by the American Jewish Committee.
Considering the events that happened during the rally and seeing the approach of protesters it has been disclosed how the sentiments of some of their community members about the United States and Israel are.
Response of Dearborn city officials to the pro-Palestinian Al Quds Day Rally
As a response to the rally, a spokesman for the city of Dearborn, As per the news, said “The inflammatory rhetoric expressed by some at the rally is neither endorsed nor supported by the City of Dearborn, its mayor, or any city elected officials. The free speech zone is a free and protected space for any to express their right to free speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
