Rally in Lexington calls for end to violence against civilians in Palestine
A large crowd gathered at the “End the Genocide in Gaza” rally at the Fayette County courthouse plaza Tuesday evening, calling for an end to the siege in Gaza.
Chanting “free, free Palestine,” scores of people lined the sidewalk on Main Street.
“Two million people are trapped in Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated areas of the world. What we’re seeing now is genocide, genocide of the Palestinian people,” Dr. Nadia Rasheed told the crowd. “...They’re murdering civilians. That’s a war crime.”
Rasheed said the situation follows a decades-long system of “apartheid” in which “the Palestinian people have no rights.”
She said those in Gaza suffer from poverty, high unemployment rates and lack of clean water.
“Children are children,” Rasheed said. “...As Americans and taxpayers to this country, we demand immediate ceasefire and deescalation and humanitarian aide for all who are displaced.”
The demonstration comes after the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas fighters, who killed more than 1,000 people and took hostages. Israel responded with airstrikes deep into Gaza and economic sanctions.
Several people in attendance at the demonstration, including Rasheed, mentioned the need to draw a distinction between antisemitism and having compassion for Palestinians.
“The problem is not the Jewish people. The problem is the State of Israel,” she told the crowd.
“Stop the killing, stop the hate. Israel is a racist state,” the crowd chanted later.
There were also chants of “Resistance is justified when people are occupied” and “Hey Joe Biden, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”
Hera Qureshi, a local anesthesiologist, urged people, particularly those in the medical community, to speak up, especially in light of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza Tuesday. Each side blamed the other for the hospital blast, which left hundreds dead. Hamas said the Israeli government was responsible, while Israel said a militant group based in Gaza was to blame.
“The hospitals in Gaza are now turning into mass graves,” Qureshi said, adding later, “Your silence and neutrality is noted.”
She also urged those in attendance to have conversations with their friends and neighbors, to speak out on social media and to consider donating to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
She said people should let their elected representatives know that they don’t want their tax dollars “spent on genocide.”
“Medical apartheid is obviously wrong, no matter what side you are taking,” Qureshi said in a brief interview.
Joanne Martha, a first-generation American who was born to Palestinian parents, said her father was forced to leave his home during the 1948 evacuation, when he was 14 years old. She said soldiers arrived and “said ‘Stay and die or leave and live.’ We gave them nothing. They stole it.”
“They control our water, our electricity, our gas,” Martha said.
Martha said she was encouraged to see several nationalities represented at the protest.
“I am really upset that my tax dollars are complicit in killing a nation,” she said.
“They’ve wiped out entire families,” Martha said. “They’ve deprived people of food, water and electricity. War crimes.
“Hamas are terrorists. But we’re talking about Palestinians.”
This story was originally published October 17, 2023 at 11:10 PM.
