Oklahomans Against Occupation is dedicated to curating a safe space for every individual eager to advocate and learn more about communities in need of extended support. We believe in the power of dialogue, empathy, and education to foster positive change.
By pacetulsa
March 17, 2024
The group known as Oklahomans Against Occupation flew Palestinian flags inside the Capitol along with signs demanding a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Our mission is multifaceted, reflecting our dedication to raising awareness, educating our fellow Oklahomans, amplifying Palestinian voices, advocating for diplomacy, and supporting the safety and freedom of the Palestinian people.
“In the last three months, 30,000 Palestinians have died. These are civilians. These are children. These are innocent women and men who do not deserve to live under these conditions. It’s a humanitarian issue, it’s a humanitarian issue. Anyone with any heart and empathy sees this issue and wants to fight for justice and fight for what’s right,” Yasmin said.
The Black Wall Street Times website banner displays a striking image of protesters holding Palestinian flags and signs outside the Oklahoma State Capitol on Monday, February 5, 2024. The photograph, taken by Anna Littlejohn, features prominently on the website’s homepage.
The protesters, numbering between 50-100, were demonstrating in support of Palestine and calling for a ceasefire. The rally coincided with the Governor Stitt’s annual State of the State Address, where he discussed Oklahoma’s progress and future plans.
The demonstrators could be heard chanting slogans such as “One-two-three-four, occupation no more” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” The Black Wall Street Times published an article on the protest, written by Anna Littlejohn, which provides a detailed account of the event and includes quotes from Yasmin, a member of Oklahomans Against Occupation, who spoke to the newspaper about the protest.
Yasmin highlighted the state’s complicity in the ongoing conflict in Palestine, citing the state treasurer’s investment in Israel and Governor Stitt’s unconditional support for the country.
Gov. Stitt visits Israel in ‘solidarity’ trip
The article also mentions the Governor Stitt’s visit to Israel in November of the previous year, where he met with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss future partnerships between the two states. Gov. Kevin Stitt joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on a trip to Israel Thursday to show “solidarity.”
Both Stitt and Abbott shared on social media that they met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.
The article concludes by highlighting the role of an army supplier in McAlester, Oklahoma, which supplies one-third of munitions for the Defense Department, including thousands of Mark 84 2,000-pound bombs, M11 artillery rounds, and 105mm artillery rounds.
In November.2023, the state Treasurer’s Office bought another $10 million Israeli bond, bringing Oklahoma’s total investment to some $60 million.
The local Army Ammunition Plant files MK-80 style bombs and manufactures Massive Ordnance Air Blast. MOABs are incredibly powerful bombs, first used in 2017 by the U.S. in Afghanistan. The largest detonation ever seen from a non-nuclear source. President Biden has previously agreed to sell weapons, like those created in McAlester, to Israel despite disapproval from Congress.
Students, community rally for Palestine on OU campus
Dominic Green, an OU student who does not identify as Jewish or Palestinian, came to observe a protest rally on University of Oklahoma campus Norman, Oklahoma.
“I just heard about it, and I think it’s a cool thing,” Green said. “There are a lot of people here, and I definitely was not expecting this. I am happy they are here.”
He said he came because he understood tensions between the two warring states and said it is important to listen to perspectives.
Hundreds of people gathered at the food court in Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma to protest the Israel occupation of Palestine.
Among other things, students also protested the state of Oklahoma and the university for continuing to support study abroad programs in Israel, as well as exchange programs.
The Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israeli Studies at OU offers different programs in cooperation with universities in Israel.
Yasmin, an incoming freshman at OU and organizer for Oklahomans Against Occupation, came to support the event.
“We have Israel exchange programs with students, they get to come here,” Yasmin said. “There’s no such thing for Palestinian students in any of the territories that are occupied, and so we’re asking that programs like that and other divestments that have been made by this university be reinvested back into Oklahoma.”
“This event is about letting the University of Oklahoma note about its students do not stand for genocide, nor does it stand for divestments in Israel,” Yasmin said. “We ask that the university turns away their divestment from Israel and reinvest it into the students.”
She said students at the protest want the U.S. to call for a permanent ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to come into the Gaza Strip.
Levenson said its programs send students to different parts of the Israel state, including Palestine.
“Many of our scholarship students have toured sites on the West Bank, and nearly all have spent time in Arab East Jerusalem. Further, the Schusterman Center supports study abroad to Jordan, Egypt, North Africa, indeed, all areas in this region where it is safe for OU students to travel,” Levenson said.
Also at the protest were pro-Israel students. Of the dozen approached by the Transcript, none would self-identify on record, though Jewish alumnus said “A lot of people are calling the war in Gaza genocide. It simply isn’t a genocide. It’s a war of self defense. It’s very tragic, that so many Palestinians have died, but Israel is not targeting civilians.”
The Oklahomans Against Occupation is scheduled to have a meeting in North Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Rudisill Regional library on March 16th 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
PACE TULSA 