Dozens of people came together in Fresno to march for a cause that strives to end the genocide happening against the Palestinian people in the Israel-Hamas war.
On Nov. 9, multiple social justice groups met at River Park to march down Blackstone to show solidarity with Palestine and to protest continual U.S. assistance in the Israeli mission.
The protest was organized by Peace Fresno, a social justice organization aiming to find alternatives to war, according to its website.
Nearly 400 days ago, the conflict began following the Hamas attacks on Israel. Since then around 40,000 people have been confirmed dead.
Many believe this number is an understatement.
An article posted in The Lancet, a weekly medical Journal, claimed that the death toll could actually be closer to 200,000 as of July 2024.
Stan Santos is one of the co-chairs for Raza Against War and dove into why the official counts are so low.
“In order to have an official count, you have to have a surviving family member or individual that knows them and can identify the body,” Santos said. “What’s happening now is many of the bodies are staying under the rubble.”
Santos also went into detail about the effects of bombs dropped and how it has the potential to disintegrate bodies and make others unidentifiable. This also adds to the possible understatement of the death count.
“This is a modern-day Holocaust with more bombs,” said Zahra Al, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Group in the Central Valley.
She was also one of the many speakers who voiced their concerns about the issues.
Most of the people participating in the demonstration held signs and chanted words of freedom for the Palestinian people. From children to the elderly, their voices rang throughout the street.
Cars drove by and honked in support, while others walked by to stand in solidarity with Palestine.
“I don’t think it’s just an issue that is just for Arabs or just for Muslims,” Al said. “It’s a human issue. If you have any humanity, this cause is your cause.”
Dozens of people from all backgrounds were in attendance and all came to have their voices heard.
The demonstration lasted approximately an hour and a half and was one of the largest crowds that had been there in a while according to Santos.
He also added that any American can help with the cause by supporting certain movements or policies in Congress. He pointed out the enforcement of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Leahy Law. Both of these involve the U.S. not aiding countries partaking in the violation of human rights.
These protests will continue to happen, according to Santos, for as long as there are still people dying in Palestine.
