While 130 million people around the world fixated on the grand finale of the NFL season, a starkly different spectacle unfolded far from the floodlit stadiums and roaring crowds. In the shadows of American celebration, Rafah, the Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip, became the epicenter of an unfathomably violent massacre.
As the israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) genocidal campaign continues, IOF forces launched a strategic, unprecedented onslaught of bombs in the city while the world remained distracted.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the israeli massacre left over 67 dead. At the time of the attacks, Rafah was the most densely populated city in the world as more than one million Palestinians were forced to flee over 20 miles south of a now leveled Gaza for safety.
In the days following the horrific attack, Kansas City’s streets bore witness to a profound gathering of souls, united in grief, solidarity, and defiance.
A sea of demonstrators, a mosaic of Pro-Palestine posters and flags fluttering in solidarity, lined the iconic Mill Creek Parkway.
This assembly, captured in the evocative lens of Iqbal Singh, was not just a demonstration but a declaration—a resonant echo of the unspoken anguish and the indomitable, revolutionary spirit of the Palestinian people and the increasingly growing global solidarity movement.
Local community organizations Al-Hadaf KC and Free Palestine KC organized the emergency demonstration, titled “All Eyes on Rafah.”
The demonstration was held this past Saturday, just mere days after the tragic shooting that took place during the Super Bowl victory parade.
The city continues to mourn the loss of beloved KKFI radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan and grapple with the international violence against Palestinians that our local and national leaders continue to finance. The Defender’s Executive Editor, Ryan Sorrell, articulated the importance and the need to acknowledge both of these tragedies.
The All Eyes On Rafah demonstration began shortly after 3:00 p.m. Kansas Citians by the dozens lined up along the intersecting streets of Mill Creek Parkway and Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. As the crowd grew larger, one demonstrator with a megaphone led the group in call-and-response.
The Defender spoke with Fatima Mohammadi of Al-Hadaf KC about how this demonstration resonated with Kansas City specifically.
“We understand people in the Kansas City community are familiar with the real life impacts of gun violence,” Mohammadi explained, “and we want people to make that connection to what’s happening all over of the world.”
For Kansas Citians across both state lines, the local connection to the occupation and genocide of Palestinians is more blatant and intentional than some may realize. Mohammadi expanded more on that connection, telling The Defender, “We’re giving millions of dollars to bomb and kill innocent people who deserve to live just as much as we do here.”
It’s more than just the monetary support that’s provided to israel. City leaders like Mayor Quinton Lucas have silenced supporters of Palestine who are rightfully outspoken about israel’s genocidal regime. Just last October, Lucas withdrew his zoning board nomination for Emerson “Jaz” Hays after Hays took to social media to speak out against israel.
In a letter to Lucas, District 1 Councilman Nathan Willett weaponized antisemitism to demonize Hays’s comments towards israel and mischaracterize his tweet as an offensive remark towards the Jewish Community. In that same letter, Willett refers to israel as “one of our nation’s strongest allies.” Willett’s claim, however, is not shared among all Jewish people in Kansas City.
During Saturday’s demonstration, members of the Jewish community showed up to oppose israel’s violence against Palestinians. The Defender spoke with Michael Wolfe of Jewish Voice for Peace Kansas City. Wolfe, who refers to himself as a United States Jew who grew up in Kansas City, adamantly rejects the sentiment that israel is acting with moral favor for the Jewish community.
“What we see happening right now,” Wolfe explained, “is all supposedly happening in the name of Jewish safety and I fundamentally oppose that. I fail to see how the killing of women and children keeps Jewish people safe.”
In fact, Wolfe explained that it is israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestine that is harmful to the people of israel. “If you look at the language coming out of the citizens that were taken hostage,” Wolfe continued, “it’s clear that the genocidal campaign against Palestinians on behalf of the israeli government is not keeping them safe.”
As the crowd grew even larger, it became clear that the demonstration was more than just a protest. Members of the community were also showing up to mourn their losses and grieve with others. “How is your soul?” a leader of Al-Hadaf KC asked one protester. Unable to find the words to respond to such a question, the two just shared an embrace. It was a brief moment of grief shared between community members near the Plaza Fountain, an area demonstrators have redubbed Marty’s Park.
Over the holidays, members of the Free Palestine Collective installed a “Circle of Remembrance” near the Plaza Fountain (Marty’s Park). The installation, which is similar to a Mandala, includes over 30,000 stones to represent the martyred, baby socks to represent children who have been murdered, and pencils to represent schools and hospitals destroyed by israeli violence.
At Saturday’s demonstration, The Defender spoke with “J” of Free Palestine KC who spoke more about the Circle of Remembrance and Marty’s Park. “We tried to place one stone for every martyred individual in Gaza,” J explained.
“We had candles around it to represent the fire within us,” J continued. Since the installation, people of the community have come on their own accord to add stones and lay rocks to the installation. “It’s become a place to mourn and recognize the people who have been killed,” said J.
Many members of the Kansas City community share a personal connection to the Circle of Remembrance. Maha O, a leader of Al-Hadaf KC, also spoke with The Defender Saturday to share their connection. “A lot of our family is [in Gaza],” Maha O explained, “I am from there. I have lost over 100 family members to israeli violence and airstrikes.”
And even in the midst of mourning, Maha O has remained persistent about ending the occupation and israel’s genocidal regime. “We’ve consistently been out here to make our voices heard,” Maha O continued, “There’s just not been a lot of response from our representatives and people in positions of power.”
For over five months, community organizations like Al-Hadaf KC, Free Palestine KC, and Jewish Voice for Peace Kansas City have made their demands clear. Supporters advocating for a free Palestine have shown up to demonstrations almost weekly to inform and educate others. “That’s why we showed up at the parade,” Mohammadi explained, “Politicians and corporate owners want us to focus on the entertainment and the celebration without addressing and putting their funding towards real solutions for ending violence here and abroad.” Mohammdi explained, “We’re not protesting a singular decision.” She concludes, “You can’t just do one thing.”
Additional photographs of the demonstration can be viewed below. All photos captured by Lynnie Holl.
