We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, call on you––our public officials–– to take urgent action in regards to Palestinian rights. For too long, Palestinians have faced the brutality of military occupation, the theft of their land and livelihood, and the denial of their basic rights at the hands of Israel.

In the month of May alone, the world has borne witness to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in real time. In the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, the Israeli state and settlers have been colluding to violently displace Palestinian families from their homes. In Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli police and military forces assaulted Palestinian worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan with hand grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets. As we write, the Israeli airstrikes have killed over 200 Palestinians and injured over 1,600 in the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s perpetuation of ethnic cleansing campaigns and crimes of apartheid are directly enabled by the U.S. government’s $3.8 billion of military funding annually. No one can deny these realities. Those who choose to justify this violence are standing on the wrong side of history. It is well within your power and responsibility to take action today and to join us in writing a more just future.

We call on our public officials across San Diego County to immediately heed the following demands from San Diego’s Palestinian community joined by a broad base of supporters, including good government, civil rights, advocacy, direct service organizations, and your constituents throughout San Diego County who put you in office.

We call on you to:
(1) Issue a public statement condemning Israel’s occupation of Palestine and apartheid laws. Uplift Palestinian rights, namely their basic rights to education, healthcare, movement, and above all- the rights of Palestinian refugees to return and live dignified in their homeland.
(2) Pledge to end any and all local police training programs with the Israeli military because they lead to the excessive militarization of our streets and police brutality against our communities of color.
(3) Support federal resolutions and bills that condition and end U.S. military funding to Israel, including Rep. Betty McCollum’s House Resolution 2590, better known as the Palestine Children and Families Act - Federal and ACOI bill.

The time to act is now. We demand that you publicly respond to our open letter by Friday, May 28, 2021.
Signed,