Decolonizing Beyond Academia

The events unfolding in Gaza are a stark reminder of the implications of oppressive systems, and what is necessary when people fight back.

By Joshua Kloss


Ain’t No Power Like the Power of the People, ‘Cuz the Power of the People Won’t Stop

Minnesota has been showing up and showing out. 


On the evening of Wednesday, October 18, over 3,000 people showed up at the capitol building in Saint Paul to express their solidarity and support for the people of Palestine, and to call out Governor Waltz for his ongoing support of Israel. On the afternoon of Sunday, October 22, over 1,500 people marched in Loring Park and organized a “die-in,” at the busy intersection between the park and Walker Art Center. Somebody drove through the protest, but only two minor injuries resulted from his malice. At noon on Wednesday, October 25, students at the U walked out of their classes to rally in front of Coffman Memorial Union for Palestine. The walk-out was part of a larger, nationally organized one that involved thousands of students from countless schools across the country.



Clearly, Minnesota has been showing up and showing out. The protests and rallies cited here are a select few of the bold displays of solidarity Minnesotans are taking, and demonstrations like these are part of a larger, global trend seen beyond the U.S. in cities like Paris and London. 


Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere

Now, before reading too deep into the article, it is important to note that calling for the liberation of Palestine is something I do while wholeheartedly supporting the freedoms and rights of Jewish people everywhere. While the actions of Israel and the US Government should certainly be condemned, you can also condemn anti-Semitism where you see it. Pro-Palestine marchers at the capitol asked a man with an anti-Semitic sign to leave their protest, sending the message that hate speech was not welcome, and that anti-Semitism was not part of their platform.



Oftentimes, we wonder how genocide and horrible historical atrocities could ever occur — how could the people at the time just let that happen? But we must acknowledge that it is happening right now. This means acknowledging that what the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the state of Isreal is doing to the people of Palestine right now is genocide. As of March of 2023, the United States has given a total of $158 billion (not adjusted for inflation). That looks closer to about $3.8 billion annually, which was the amount given in 2020 alone. As a result of a $105 billion national security package, which Biden announced just weeks ago, Israel will be receiving an additional $14.3 billion USD from the U.S., the cause of which is cited as assistance for “humanitarian aid.”



Gaza has been called “the world’s largest open-air prison,” for years now by human rights groups. The people there have had their water and electricity shut off, and humanitarian aid from countries such as Egypt has only recently been allocated to citizens in south Gaza, a severely insufficient amount. Israel gave people explicit routes for evacuation to south Gaza, and some of those routes were bombed thereafter. It should not take me to say this, but if you are still having trouble sympathizing, most of the people being bombed in Gaza are young children, who are writing their names on their arms so that their bodies can be identified from the rubble of explosion debris. It has recently been confirmed that white phosphorus, a very harmful substance, was dropped by Israeli forces in Gaza and Lebanon; the unlawful use of which is considered a war crime. I could go on, but I am sure this is not the first time you’re hearing about these atrocities. 




It shouldn’t cause uproar, then, to admit that this is genocide. It is difficult to deem this a warranted response from Israel to combat terrorism, seeing as though the death toll count continues to rise with the names of civilians who have nothing to do with Hamas. IDF commanders in interviews with news outlets such as CNN have even admitted to bombing, say, hospitals or refugee camps, working under the assumption that Hamas could be hurt by these attacks as well. So I am not afraid to say, rather, that this is a continued annihilation of an entire group of people. One that has been happening for years now. Future generations will learn about this in history class and ask themselves, how could we have let this happen?



From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free

Decolonization: you’ve heard of that word, surely. But I’m curious what this word means outside of an academic context. It’s easy to call for justice and the decolonization of an occupied land from the comfort of a school desk; yet, somehow, when the decolonizing in question gets messy, or bloody, or too difficult, people seem to forget what the true meaning of the word is.




Decolonizing has never been an easy act, nor has it been a bloodless one. This is something that history has communicated time and time again. When the existence of people is not respected, resistance can certainly be expected.



To learn more about what decolonizing looks like in action, I interviewed Anthony TG, a member of MN AWC and a student at the U’s Department of American Indian Studies (AIS). When discussing Gaza, Anthony explained that, “This is about occupation.” Considering that the majority of us here on-campus are not the victims of violent occupation, Anthony elaborated that, “we do not get to decide what resistance should look like.” 



Throughout our interview, it seemed that the most important thing for students is to translate their education into actionable support of decolonization as it occurs. Specific to the University of Minnesota is a history of violent treatment of indigenous peoples. Should you want to support decolonization, you can start right here at home. The Truth Project produced and published demands of the U, which are visible on the AIS’s website. Students interested in decolonization should direct themselves to these, and consider ways that they, as individuals, can help support these demands. 




Educating oneself on issues are important as well, and Anthony gave me a great cohort of resources for anyone hoping to learn more about native history in Minnesota. The Red Deal, written by The Red Nation and including contributions from two indigenous professors here at the U, is one place to start. Another notable book is Nick Estes’s Our History is the Future, also written by a professor at the U. The last two chapters of this book, specifically, focus on issues of settler-colonialism, and discusses the fight for indigenous decolonization in the intersectional context of the fight for Palestine.




For students wanting to educate themselves on the fight for Palestine, check out The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Kahlidi, which provides a nuanced, historical perspective. Steven Salaita’s short essay, “A Practical Appraisal of Palestiniaan Violence,” is another resource, which is a recently published discussion of what resistance means for Palestinians right now. And, for those who enjoy podcasts, try listening to The Red Nation’s podcast episode from October 9, or Fight Back Radio’s episode from October 29. And for all you cinephiles, check out, “Gaza Fights for Freedom,” which was filmed in Gaza, and documents the Great March of Return.



While education is great, taking action is honorable. Money talks, so it’s worth looking into the Boycott Divestment Movement (BDS) to see how you can boycott companies that support colonialism in the Middle East. This is an action that can be taken right now. As Anthony puts it, “There’s a place for anybody, even if they can’t always hit the marches.” Organizing takes tons of work, and when he says there’s a place for anybody, he’s not kidding. Do what you can, and what you are able. It is hard and draining work, no doubt. But as always, the fight for liberation for all is forever an ongoing issue.



And above all, take care of yourself.




Sources

Marches/rallies:

Happening in Gaza:

  • Deemed “world’s largest open-air prison”:

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/10/1204873146/what-is-gaza-strip

Financial aid to Israel:

Interview: Anthony TG from MN AWC. Agreed to have quotes published in The Wake student magazine, as well as parts of our interview. Thanks again, Anthony!

Wake Mag