Nakba Day 2018

Join RCF in Olympia on May 15th, 2018 to observe the 70th anniversary of al Nakba, or “the catastrophe,” the widespread ethnic cleansing campaign against Palestinians perpetrated by Zionist forces leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel on May 15, 1948. The campaign of ethnic cleansing displaced more than 750,000 Palestinians and destroyed more than 400 of their villages.

As our Palestinian friends and colleagues in Gaza continue their incredible grassroots organizing efforts with the Great Return March in the face of extreme military violence, it is more important than ever for international audiences to show our solidarity and support for their cause. We hope you can join us in our own community to highlight the need for global support of the right of return and ending the siege on Gaza.

OLYMPIA OBSERVANCE ACTIVITIES

RCF kindly requests attendees to RSVP to the best of their abilities. These community events require planning, staff time, and funding to organize, so the more accurate attendance numbers we have, the better the events will be! Click here to RSVP. 

Nakba Display, WA State Capitol, 11 am-5 pm

RCF will display “Palestine: Stolen Homeland,” a collection of tent-style placards inscribed with the names of Palestinian villages destroyed in 1948on the Capitol Lawns (next to the Tivoli Fountain) from 11 am-5 pm to educate the public about al Nakba and the Right of Return.

The installation was created by the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign and has been installed at several sites across western Washington, educating the public about the ongoing ethnic cleansing against Palestinians.

Honoring the Great Return March, WA State Capitol to Traditions Cafe, 5-6:30 pm

• 5-6 pm: Gather with RCF and fellow community members to view and pack up the Nakba display, share stories, and honor the Palestinians nonviolently demonstrating in Gaza.
• 6-6:30 pm: At 6 pm we will walk silently as a group down from the Capitol to Traditions Fair Trade Cafe for a film screening of 1948: Creation & Catastrophe. This silent walk will honor those killed and injured in the Great Return March, along with all the Palestinians around the world waiting to return home. (This is a sidewalk procession, not a street march. Signs will be provided.)

We will screen the film 1948: Creation & Catastrophe at 7 pm. We’ll end with a list of ways we can support Palestinians at home and abroad with concrete action items. If you plan to attend the film, we are asking for a $10 donation to cover the cost of film screening rights. You can make the donation via this ticketing page or at the door. Please note, nobody will be denied admission due to lack of funds.

About the film:

Through riveting and moving personal recollections of both Palestinians and Israelis, 1948: Creation & Catastrophe reveals the shocking events of the most pivotal year in the most controversial conflict in the world. It tells the story of the establishment of Israel as seen through the eyes of the people who lived it. But rather than being a history lesson, this documentary is a primer for the present. It is simply not possible to make sense of what is happening in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today without an understanding of 1948. This documentary is the last chance to hear first-hand accounts of what took place in Haifa, Jaffa, Dayr Yasin, Acre, Jerusalem, Ramle and Lydda from the Israelis and Palestinians who personally fought in and fled from this land. These shocking and dramatic events reveal the core of what drives the conflict today.The documentary includes interviews with veterans, refugees, survivors and historians of the war collected in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Those who lived through the war are the centerpiece of the story, but respected historians, including Charles D. Smith, Avi Shlaim, Nur Masalha, Benny Morris, Ilan Pappe, Rashid Khalidi and Sharif Kanaaneh provide context for the events. By Andy Trimlett and Ahlam Muhtaseb / Palestine – US / 2017 / 99 mins