I've been reflecting for a while on my hesitation to share this @ukblm tweet. My family was forced from their homes in Palestine in 1948 and me and my displaced family are not allowed to return. My grandmother died in London, not Haifa where she was born.
I regularly stop myself from speaking this truth for fear of baseless accusations, pile-ons & an intensification of harassment & delegitimization campaigns I have been subject to. I don't think people know how much we feel we have to self-censor when we want to speak our history.
We're expected to accept ever-less land and minimal autonomy in exchange for the simple recognition of our humanity and rights. Living side-by-side with us in equality is unthinkable by those who perceive us only as a security and demographic threat, not human beings.
Palestinians are subjected to a system of institutionalized discrimination, systemic dehumanisation & the racist legacy of colonialism. But it's not only us. It's heartening to see solidarity from @ukblm & ppl like Angela Davis when #BlackLivesMatter is rightly in the spotlight.
Pleased this has prompted a convo about self-censorship & the links between anti-Black & anti-Palestinian racism. It’s important not to distract from the #BlackLivesMatter moment - please consider donating to #BLM secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_… & @Dreamdefenders! secure.actblue.com/donate/givetodd
