United States Businesses and Consumers Rally for Peace in Gaza
The beloved coffee shop on Michigan Avenue is closed, as its owners and employees join a worldwide strike demanding a ceasefire in the devastating conflict in Gaza.
"Today is a day for us to set aside all the important things in our lives and focus on the people in Gaza, demand an immediate ceasefire, and shut our doors for the day," said coffee shop owner Hamza Nasser to CNN, closing his shop in Michigan. All 12 cafes in Kentucky, Texas, Illinois, and California also closed.
Palestinian groups announced a global attack on Saturday, just a day after the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The strikes on Monday and Tuesday led to temporary closures of businesses, strikes by workers, consumers avoiding shopping, and students skipping school.
The call for a strike was taken up by communities around the world, including many in the United States. According to the local activist group Palestinian Justice Alliance, over 270 businesses closed in the Chicago area alone on Monday. Among the participating businesses were fitness studios, auto repair shops, salons, and private schools.
Businesses across the country, from New York to Texas to California, also closed. Social media buzzed with Americans announcing they were quitting their jobs or boycotting shopping.
Supporters of the strike include Palestinian journalists Motaz Azaiza and Bisan Owda, who have gained millions of followers on social media thanks to their coverage of the conflict.
"This attack is important because everyone says no and everyone supports a ceasefire to put an end to all actions against Gaza," said Auda in an Instagram video.
"This attack is painful because it's a form of peaceful protest, but it also harms the economy and politicians who refuse to see and listen to the people who demand a ceasefire in Gaza."
Strike in Solidarity with the Palestinians
Alex Tarzikhan, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney for a human rights group, said she joined the strike out of solidarity with the Palestinians and others with a conscience.
Tarzikhan follows the conflict closely since Hamas launched a bold attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and over 240 hostages taken. Israel retaliated with the siege of Gaza and deadly airstrikes that destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals in densely populated areas. According to Palestinian Health Ministry, which relies on Hamas-controlled sources, over 18,000 Palestinians have been killed, 70% of them women, children, and the elderly, and over 50,000 more.
Tarzikhan said she checks in regularly with Auda and other Palestinian journalists, often left with feelings of helplessness after seeing the heart-rending and graphic images they share on social media.
"The first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do before I go to bed is to check their (Instagram) stories to make sure they're still alive," said Tarzikhan. "I decided to join the strike because I feel I owe them so much and because I couldn't morally continue my daily life while they were calling for help."
Owda's original post, calling for the strike, was liked over 830,000 times, and supporters around the world announced they would join.
Alexandra Bowman closed her art gallery in Oakland, California, after receiving the call. "No email, no bank transactions, no cash," Bowman said.
Bowman said her motivation was empathy for the Palestinians. Instead of working, she and her family spent their time making phone calls and sending emails, demanding a ceasefire.
"All our freedoms as humans are interconnected. If I spoke out against police brutality against black Americans in 2020, how can I remain silent when an entire group is under state-sanctioned violence?" Bowman said. "At its core, collective freedom is an exercise in empathy and acknowledging what the Palestinian people are going through."
Josh, a resident of Queens, New York, said he couldn't fully quit his job as an advertising salesman, but he managed to reduce his hours. He refused to spend money.
Josh, who prefers to withhold his last name for fear of retaliation from his employer, who he thinks may disagree with his political views, said, "I hope the world realizes what colonization looks like in 2023—not just something you learn in history class, but the ongoing terror imposed on the people of the world by western powers, and the true face of colonialism." "It's happening in Gaza and Palestine," he said.
Some strike participants said their livelihoods were in danger.
Heather, who also withheld her last name out of fear of retaliation, closed her restaurant in Jersey City, New Jersey, believing it was wrong to break the strike.
"I think if the closure of my business can raise awareness and educate a person on the situation, then I can make a difference," she said. "That's why I still speak out and connect my business and my values to the cause." I am thrilled.
The closure of stores was also seen in adjacent Paterson, a city known lovingly as "Little Ramallah," due to its large Palestinian community. The reactions were mixed, said Heather. She also received hate messages online from her community.
"The hatred that I receive for closing my business or supporting a ceasefire is causing me to question humanity and how it's possible to support such a cause when a child is killed," she said. Nevertheless, Heather said she can say that more people are beginning to understand the Palestinian struggle: "I have the feeling that the world is finally waking up."
PeoplePower
Americans participating in the strike said they felt especially responsible due to US support for Israel. In addition to vetoing Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, the United States provides diplomatic and military support to Israel, including annual US military aid in the billions.
On Friday, the US State Department sent a letter of urgency to Congress, requesting approval of a $106 million weapons sale to Israel and bypassing the regular 20-day review period for such sales by Congress.
"The United States feels obligated to Israel's security, and supporting Israel in the development and maintenance of a strong and ready self-defense capability is of critical importance to US national interests," said a State Department spokesman on Saturday to CNN. "We made it clear to the Israeli government that it must adhere to (humanitarian international law) and take all necessary steps to prevent civilians from being harmed."
However, strike participants argue that the rising number of casualties shows that the US must do more to restrain Israel and protect civilians, and that economic pressure could help achieve that goal.
"I think if people really look at how changes and revolutions have occurred throughout history, they'll see that boycotts and strikes are effective," said Josh. He cited examples from US history, including Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Others pointed to the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which helped topple the South African apartheid regime in the early 1990s. Bowman said, "This shows that people are not entirely helpless and that they can have a significant impact on international issues through their unity."
"If our government cares about anything, it's the economy, and when we use our money wisely, we have the power to bring about real change," she said. "At least trying to change something—even if it fails—is never meaningless, because it shows that we still have humanity. It shows that people in Gaza are suffering and that people see them and care about them."
