US representative Rashida Tlaib defiantly leads Nakba day in Washington

US Representative Rashida Tlaib, the featured guest speaker at Wednesday night's event, Nakba 75 and the Palestinian people, spoke defiantly at the gathering after it was forced to relocate following its cancellation at the Capitol by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hours beforehand.

"There's a saying where I come from. Nothing, absolutely nothing, stops Detroit," said Tlaib. "And so, if today's not a testament of that, I don't know what is."

The congresswoman, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh around her shoulders, spoke before a crowded room full of Palestinians of all ages, from children to Nakba survivors, and others.

An overflowing room joined @RepRashida in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Nakba in a historic event on Capitol Hill. #Nakba75 pic.twitter.com/Y6G02kZ6qz

— IMEU (@theIMEU) May 11, 2023

Following the cancellation of the event at the Capitol by McCarthy, it was held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, which Senator Bernie Sanders was able to secure with his position as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Chairs are able to approve rooms for events.

The attempt to cancel the event only seemed to give it more publicity and embolden Tlaib and other speakers, including Nakba survivors and their descendants, who tied the symbolism of being displaced from their original venue to the decades-long displacement of Palestinians from their homeland.

"We are here," human rights attorney Noura Erakat said repeatedly in her opening and closing remarks.

"The Nakba never ended" were the words that Tlaib repeated as she referenced the instances of Palestinian mass displacement since the establishment of Israel. She also described instances of ongoing state violence and infringements on Palestinians' freedom of movement.

The Nakba, or catastrophe, is the term used generally by Palestinians to describe the displacement of more than 700,000 residents and human rights violations with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. At this event, one of the prevailing messages was that the Nakba is ongoing.

"There are days that I feel so alone in Congress as the only Palestinian American serving in the House. But not today, thanks to Cori," said Tlaib.

Her friend and colleague, Representative Cori Bush, a longtime Black civil rights activist, sat by her side and was met with a standing ovation as she was praised for her solidarity with Palestinians.

Tlaib described her district as the most beautiful, blackest city in the country. And she compared the struggles of blacks and Palestinians seemingly having no acceptable form of resistance to state violence.

"I am a reminder to my colleagues that Palestinians do exist, that we are humans, that we have dreams of truly being free, that we are mothers, daughters, granddaughters. We are justice seekers," she said. "Palestinians aren't going anywhere."

She said, "Palestinians and us as Americans have the right to explain the Nakba of 1948."

Tlaib concluded by introducing what she described as a historic resolution to recognise the Nakba. Presenting the resolution with her was a Nakba survivor.

"You always speak truth to power, even if your voice shakes," Tlaib said. "So, I introduce this historic resolution in Congress: The Nakba happened in 1948 and it never ended."