Every year in May, ultra-nationalist, extremist settlers mark Jerusalem Day with a parade through East Jerusalem, chanting racist slogans and terrifying Palestinian residents. They are forced to board up their shops and hide in their homes, praying that the violence doesn’t escalate.
The march is not a celebration. It is an intimidation tactic.
But NIF grantees are also on the scene, ensuring that Palestinian East Jerusalemites do not face this violence alone. On the morning of the march, Tag Meir, a coalition of organizations that works to combat racism in Israeli society, followed the same route, handing out flowers to those they encountered along the way. This “Flower March” is meant to spread goodwill in a time of deep division and insist on a vision of the future based on equality and partnership.
Hundreds of volunteers with Standing Together were on site during the march itself, de-escalating confrontation and putting their bodies on the line to stand between settlers and Palestinian residents. Many activists were attacked, assaulted, and ultimately removed from the scene by the police. You can watch a video showing their work on Jerusalem Day here.
But their message was clear: we will not allow this behaviour to go unchallenged. We will continue to show up and to fight for a better future.
Photos Courtesy of Tag Meir.