From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. #khalas
This weekend, I had the joy of celebrating NAAHM at a friend’s gallery opening. It’s hard to put into words how powerful it felt to be in that room. It was so much more than great art and good people. In a time when people are being persecuted, displaced, and punished for speaking out in defense of Arab lives—especially in Gaza—this gathering, though celebratory, also held mourning and sorrow.
We are witnessing a rise in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate. And yet, to be in community, to honor this moment so fully and unapologetically, was a small act of resistance. That truth echoed in our smiles, our conversations, our presence. I’m deeply grateful to be welcomed into these spaces—and even more grateful to stand side by side with my brothers and sisters in arms.
There is no liberation under occupation. In a conversation last night, a friend reminded me: we can’t wait for others to save us. Liberation won’t come from outside. We have to show up for each other. We have to care deeply enough—for our neighbors, our people—to fight for one another. I‘m grateful for art, resistance, and the power of community. May we never stop showing up—for each other, for truth, for freedom. The land remembers. The people remain.