We, the undersigned as a DC community, rise in solidarity with the DMV Students for Justice in Palestine (DMV SJP) Gaza Solidarity Encampment at George Washington University as they struggle for an end to the US-backed genocide in Palestine by the Israeli government. While the encampment has been cleared, the students are still demanding full divestment from Israel, including academic partnerships, as well as reinstating student organizers who have been suspended resulting in the loss of their housing. DC students are courageously leading this fight and we must support them. Over the last 7 months, there have been over 35,000 Palestinians killed indiscriminately by US-made bombs and with US diplomatic cover, 70% of which are women and children. DC university administrators and their board of trustees are complicit in this violence through their partnerships, endowments and investment in the State of Israel.

We urge the DC Council to publicly announce their support of the students as well as the Palestinian people through the form of public statements and immediately introducing and passing a ceasefire resolution. States across the country are supporting university administrations as they call up militarized police forces against student demonstrations. As republican congress members threaten DC autonomy, by intimidating our elected officials, interfering in our local affairs once again, and even harassing our students within the encampment, it is crucial that the Mayor and DC Council recognize that the District of Columbia and Palestine struggle are linked. The same forces that restrict DC’s right to statehood, also deny statehood for the Palestinian people and their right of return.The billions of US taxpayer dollars in military aid to Israel are fueling this genocide and denying Palestinians their right to self-determination. Our fight for statehood is impossible without justice for Palestine.

We are neighbors in DC, from average residents to political officials, from local organizations to small business owners, from community to faith leaders, demanding that our elected officials break their silence, speak out against this genocide and in support of the student's demands, and continue the push for DC statehood and autonomy.