Cities Across the U.S. Unite in Solidarity for Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire

Reported by Annie Jia, for UNSUGARCOATED Media

Edited by Menglin Christina Gong

Los Angeles, December 20 – Cities around the United States witnessed the original strike on Monday, December 11th, 2023, in response to the United States’ veto on a UN Council resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on December 8th. One day after the vote, Palestinian groups called for a two-day global strike for the following Monday and Tuesday. Business owners, employees, consumers, and students nationwide have subsequently joined the call.

Coalition for Justice in Palestine, a local activist organization in Chicago, reported that at least 270 businesses were closed on Monday in the Chicago area alone, including fitness studios, auto shops, salons, and private schools. “Today is the day to put everything that matters in our lives aside to focus on the lives of those in Gaza and to call for an immediate ceasefire,” Hamzah Nasser, the owner of 12 popular cafes across Michigan, Kentucky, Texas, Illinois and California, according to a CNN news report.

Palestinian journalists like Motaz Azaiza and Bisan Owda, who gained millions of followers through their war coverage online, played a crucial role in promoting the strike. “This strike is important because everyone is united in saying no and everyone is united in their support for a ceasefire that stops all actions against Gaza once and for all,” Owda said in an Instagram video.

Owda’s initial post advocating the strike received over 830,000 likes, with many pledging to participate.

After seeing the post, Alexandra Bowman shut down her art business in Oakland, California: “No emails, no banking, no spending money whatsoever.” Instead of working, she and her family called and emailed public officials to request a ceasefire. Bowman stressed the interconnectedness of human liberties, drawing parallels with her previous opposition to police brutality.

 Alex Tarzikhan, a legal counsel for a human rights group in Washington, D.C., joined the strike as a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian community and as a stand for conscience. Feeling lost and helpless by the graphic and heart-wrenching images on social media, Tarzikhan has been closely following and sharing the conflict since early October, when Hamas attacked Israel, and Israel retaliated by attacking and firing destructive bombing raids across Gaza, destroying homes, schools and hospitals in the heavily populated territory.

“One of the first things I do as I wake up and before going to bed is check their (Instagram) stories to make sure they are still alive,” Tarzikhan told CNN. “I decided to join (the strike) because I felt like I owed them that much, morally I wasn’t okay continuing on with my daily routine knowing that they had issued a cry for help.”

Residents and common day laborers also stood up in pledging for a ceasefire in Gaza. In New York, Josh, an advertising professional, despite the constraints of his work, called out to reduce his work hours and abstained himself from financial transactions. Seeing shadows of colonialism in this conflict, particularly regarding the situation in Gaza and Palestine, Josh personally felt responsible.

Also in face of potential repercussions, participants like Heather, a restaurant owner in Jersey City, New Jersey, pledged to align with the strike. In one interview with CNN, she expressed, “I think if closing my business brings to light what’s going on and educates just one person then I made my impact. And that is why I continue to be vocal and align my business and values with causes that I am passionate about.”

Despite facing mixed reactions and sometimes hate messages online, Heather felt that the outcome would be worthwhile if everyone started to speak and act up. “The hate I am receiving for closing my business or supporting a ceasefire has me questioning humanity and how anyone can support any cause in which children are murdered.” Still, she reflected: “I feel like the world has finally woken up.”

The strike also prompted reflection on the U.S. government’s support for Israel, including military aid and legislative actions to expedite munitions sales. Critics called for stricter measures to protect civilians, suggesting economic influence could drive policy changes. Subsequently, an additional global strike was called for on Monday, December 18th, with more likely to follow until the genocide ends.

Historical references to successful social movements, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the anti-apartheid movement, serve as a reminder of the potential effectiveness of boycotts and strikes as tools for social change. Individuals like Bowman affirm the notion that collective action, even when the outcome is uncertain, holds intrinsic value as a testament to humanity’s resilience and compassion.

The strike stands as a testament to the belief in the power of the collective and the enduring human spirit advocating for peace and justice across borders and conflicts. Last week, UNSUGARCOATED Media also participated in this global strike of solidarity for a ceasefire in Gaza.