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March to Washington, DC for Palestine
January 13th, 2024
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Gaza Crisis Resources and Updates

In light of the ongoing crisis in Palestine, CIOGC is committed to keeping our community well-informed. It is our collective responsibility to stand in solidarity with those affected. We understand the gravity of the situation in Gaza and the importance of fostering awareness among our community members. This page serves as a resource to help you stay up to date on developments and, more importantly, avenues you can take to advocate for those oppressed in Palestine. By staying informed, we can better advocate for meaningful change and support initiatives that promote the rights and justice of the Palestinian people.

Learn about the history of Palestine here:

– Timeline of Palestine’s History

How Can YOU Help?

  • Visitceasefire-now.com and https://themuslimvoice.us: Like you, Muslims all over the country are horrified and hurt by the recent events in Palestine. We want to coordinate our efforts by appealing to Allah to alleviate the hardships our brothers and sisters in Palestine are facing. We also want to voice our dissatisfaction to our elected representatives from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Contact your elected officials. Demand a ceasefire and end US funding of genocide. Click here for a pre-written email you can send to your representatives or here for a step-by-step process on how to contact your reps.
  • Donate. Organizations such as PAMA, Penny-Appeal, ZakatUS, and PCRF are currently accepting donations for the ongoing crisis.
  • Attend a Protest.  There is power in numbers. AMP Chicago, SJP, and CJP frequently organize protests here in Chicago. Follow them on social media @ampalestine or visit their website for more information regarding the next rally. The next Chicago protest will be Friday, 11/24 at 11:00AM.
  • Keep the Conversation Centered. Advocating for the decolonization of Palestine and the human rights of the Palestinian people does not require engagement in conversations regarding Hamas or anti-semitism. 11,000+ civilians have been massacred over the last 40 days. Your advocacy and allyship should center victims of oppression, not the diverted and unrelated topics the oppressors center the conversation around.
  • Spend Your Dollars Ethically. “And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it” (Quran 99:8). Allah swt is watching every micro-decision we make. Check the BDS list here for businesses that support apartheid that you should steer away from.
    • Boycott: Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, SodaStream, AHAVA, Sabra Hummus, Aba, L’oreal, Nestle, Goddess & The Baker, Naf Naf Grill, and Pizza Hut
    • Chicago Based Palestinian Owned/supporting Businesses: Al-Bawadi Grill, Boba Heaven, Al-Hambra Palace, PaliApparel, Jerusalem Cafe, Qahwah House, Melt n Dip, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee
  • CIOGCGaza Crisis Events. CIOGC is participating in Phone Banking  Follow our social media pages @ciogchicago for more information about future events.
  • CIOGC in collaboration with  Sound Vision will be hosting a virtual training session as a part of our “Hour for Palestine” phone banking initiative. Join us for an insightful training session scheduled to take place at Islamic Center of Wheaton on January 5th at 2:00p.m. and January 6th at noon at Mecca center. The training session is comprehensive and is designed to enhance a participant’s proficiency in phone advocacy techniques. Our goal is to equip attendees with the necessary tools to ensure that their calls to action strongly resonate with our elected officials. Your active participation is crucial in amplifying our collective voice and influencing policymakers to address the pressing humanitarian issues and injustices confronting the people of Palestine. 
  • Know Your Rights. Check out CAIR Chicago’s Know Your Rights Guide for best practices on advocacy and what to do in cases of legal action.