The 76th anniversary of the Nakba reminds us that resistance is the inevitable response to oppression. The genocide in Palestine mirrors systems of power and oppression worldwide, systems that seek to destroy the bodies of land and the bodies of our human and more-than-human kin upon the land. The state of Israel, as a systematic oppressive force, is a thief—a thief of land, resources, culture, joy, and life. The state of Israel, like all oppressive systems, is disconnected from the land, and aims to destroy what it does not understand or value. 

However, the peoples’ connection to their homeland is deeply rooted, and the right to resist becomes a crucial assertion of their existence, dignity and reciprocal relationship with Mother Earth. Palestinians, like all oppressed peoples, have the inherent right to resist at all costs. Their struggle is a powerful declaration that they will not be erased or forgotten. Resistance is not just a choice; it is a necessity for survival and justice.

It is not only on oppressed peoples to resist; it is also the responsibility of the people as a whole. We must begin to understand that all of these systems are interconnected in the development of a workforce and the maintenance of capitalistic power. The university system, the labor market, philanthropic institutions, and the non-profit industrial complex all play a role in perpetuating systems of oppression and exploitation. They contribute to the creation of a compliant workforce and serve to uphold the interests of those in power.

To truly dismantle these systems, we must uproot them from their foundations. This requires a collective rejection of the status quo and a commitment to transformative change. Our goal is not reform; it is liberation. Free the people. Free the land – is a declaration of our collective determination to dismantle oppressive systems and create collective systems of care in their place.