I was at lunch with a friend in Brooklyn, and she brought up the ICC’s ruling — genocide. Two people immediately came up to us, interrupted, and publicly admonished us for using “the incorrect G-word.”
My friend immediately shot back …
My friend immediately shot back …
https://twitter.com/rrrrnessa/status/1894119494852759683
“Actually,” she said, “I have a Master’s in Middle East studies. My family is from Egypt. I’m very educated.”
The two people, now irate, pushed further.
“It is not a genocide, that is propaganda and you have been misinformed.”
The two people, now irate, pushed further.
“It is not a genocide, that is propaganda and you have been misinformed.”
My friend smiled (or grimaced, I wouldn’t want to face her in a debate.)
“I’m aware of your views, but I don’t need to be educated. Thousands of children are dead. Amnesty International calls this a genocide. Human Rights Watch. The ICC. Have *you* read the reports?”
“I’m aware of your views, but I don’t need to be educated. Thousands of children are dead. Amnesty International calls this a genocide. Human Rights Watch. The ICC. Have *you* read the reports?”
The two people’s eyes widened.
At this point, I noticed that they had chosen only to address my friend (who was Egyptian, but also had blonde hair and blue eyes, like them.)
They had also opted to not speak to me at all.
At this point, I noticed that they had chosen only to address my friend (who was Egyptian, but also had blonde hair and blue eyes, like them.)
They had also opted to not speak to me at all.
My friend continued with a dizzying array of statistics (179-page Human Rights Watch report on deliberate water deprivation. 42,000 Palestinian civilians killed. 13,000 Palestinian children killed. 97,000 Palestinian children injured.)
Her voice started rising.
Her voice started rising.
I sat there shocked. I’ll admit I am afraid to confront anyone that looks white in public, much less raise my voice.
But then the restaurant started to take notice.
But then the restaurant started to take notice.
I felt everyone’s eyes on us. My friend’s voice got even louder. She continued…
“Entire generations wiped out. The intent to destroy a group, whole or in part. Genocide..”
“We would still like to talk about this later,” the woman said, grabbing the man’s arm.
“Entire generations wiped out. The intent to destroy a group, whole or in part. Genocide..”
“We would still like to talk about this later,” the woman said, grabbing the man’s arm.
“We will give you our information, in case you would like to discuss this in a civil way…”
My friend’s eyes flashed.
“The NAKBA,” she bellowed, her arms landing on the table. “750,000 Palestinians displaced. NOT CIVIL.”
The room erupted.
My friend’s eyes flashed.
“The NAKBA,” she bellowed, her arms landing on the table. “750,000 Palestinians displaced. NOT CIVIL.”
The room erupted.
The couple glanced at each other.
“That’s right!!” my friend said. “I’m an academic. I’m educated. I’m aware. Free Palestine.”
The restaurant burst into applause.
“That’s right!!” my friend said. “I’m an academic. I’m educated. I’m aware. Free Palestine.”
The restaurant burst into applause.
I had barely moved a muscle for the entire exchange. My friend was shaking, with pride, with fear, with both.
People in the booths next to us came up to us.
“Thank you.”
People in the booths next to us came up to us.
“Thank you.”
One last *clarifying* note on this (since I do have many journalist and International law friends who *will* fact check me) on the above, referring to the *ICJ* ruling that references the Genocide convention
(linked here)
(linked here)
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
