SEATTLE, WA – SEWARD PARK AMPHITHEATER —

The International Day of Peace was celebrated on Saturday, 21 September, 2024, at the Seward Park Amphitheater. It was an all-day affair blazing the brazen title PALESTINE WILL LIVE FOREVER.

The day’s rallying cry had been made an international call through the efforts of Seattle-born rap artist and megastar Macklemore who, recently, also (officially) lists his name as Ben Haggerty. If you follow him at all, or even if you just read the news, you have seen instances of Haggerty adopting the Palestinian cause to end human rights abuses. The Palestine dream across Middle Eastern territories has become Haggerty’s own mission, ever since he heard of the mounting tension that finally turned into massive bloodshed, officially, on 7 October, 2024.

Starting just after 12pm, and lasting until just minutes before Seward Park’s posted closing time at 10pm, the stage was filled with mentors and speakers with millions of followers across social media. As well, rap spectaculars and show-stopping ethnic music entertained the audience. Thousands from the Seattle community were standing in front of the stage or seated on the hill. The music performed at the day’s event seemed to be inspired by reasons we, as a nation, have to scream about occupation inside Palestine territories. It’s a massive problem been ongoing since the mid-1960’s. With bloodshed mounting daily, it’s high-time music takes over for those who cannot get along with each other very well.

Beginning at noon, booths opened. Must have been a thousand people already there to promote the cause. Donations were made to peace-minded organizations all day long, with professional businesspeople from the area making donations, and coming and going all day long. There were sales of peace-inspired t-shirts, as well as sales of wares from Palestine, or items promoting signature Palestinian life. Everyone in the booths helped support the day’s mission.

In the booth section, Mai Odeh worked alongside her husband Amin. She created a company called Piece of Peace (@peaceofpeacepal) that sells embroidered Palestinian pieces. People were always asking to look at a piece. While she displayed each one, Mai explained to me that she and Amin immigrated to America from the Bethlehem area. They reside in Seattle, Washington. They succeeded in the United States and raised their family safely here.

However, Mai feels deep compassion for her sister and her nephews, especially these days. There are too many attacks from settlers and too many risks at military check points, for the people to feel safe. Mai’s sister lives in occupied Palestinian territories. Working inside women’s organizations, her sister often buys beautiful textiles from women making them in refugee camps which she sends out of the country. It takes time, but they arrive safely to Mai, in Seattle.

Each piece has a meaning. Every embroiderment says a story of where it came from and who did it. To those who are mindful of what they are holding when they pick them up and look at them, something about the history of Palestine is communicated.

Odeh and her husband Amin don’t want to see today’s children and further generations continue to go through human rights abuse. The occupation has been going on for 76 years. Amin lived the first half of his life as a refugee who experienced violent behavior perpetrated by outside forces. He grew up in a refugee camp, displaced by members of Israel’s forces.

The latest slimeball line that seems to promote more bloodshed is how the Palestine community is being brainwashed by hate groups or radical groups. This is plenty far-fetched to someone like Amin who doesn’t know get involved with radical groups, but does indeed know the terror he has experienced.

“From the day you are born you are old enough to see these people in uniform, you have no idea what their religion is—whether they are Israeli or someone else—but you, over time, start seeing them abuse your family members, your neighbors, your city or town members.” Amin discussed this with me at the booth while Odeh took care of their customers.

Unfortunately, the history of the Middle East includes conflicts for many decades. Amin said the root is colonization throughout the area by the English army, and forces from France succeeding in making their own claims throughout the region. That had been taking place long before Russia or the United States grew into their planetary super-power status. The dividing of the region, primarily between England and French leadership, has been ongoing.

After it was officially put together in 1945, the United Nations stepped in. It happened sometime around 1948. The area had been known to foreigners as Palestine, but from an interlude felt throughout the UN community, the Nation of Israel became a fact. This all happened under the leadership of Norway’s Trygve Lie. It was through dealing with the United Nations that America’s leadership was suddenly being shoved into the whole ordeal. That’s exactly where and how America tripped into the mess when the United States should have side-stepped totally the inclusion.

With the publicly-made full support at the United Nations, Palestine’s people were relocated to specific, chosen areas. They were the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Then, in the 1960’s, developers started to rip and run with these last remaining Palestinian lands. That’s when murder of innocent people at the hands of the Israel forces became sort of an okay thing, to some people.

Without question, everyone participating in the PALESTINE WILL LIVE FOREVER event felt the need to bring lasting peace throughout all Palestine areas in the Middle East.

Later in the day, I spotted Odeh, Amin, and their daughter who wore Converse made to support Gaza. The family stood on the top of the hill watching the final speakers, and poets, and music guests. Amin waved Gaza’s flag while his wife and daughter wore the keffiyeh.

Macklemore’s Dream For Palestine… Part I: “PIECE OF PEACE”

Macklemore’s Dream For Palestine… Part II: “UNTIL WE’RE ALL FREE”

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