Nourish California staff understand that hunger, poverty, and health inequities do not exist by chance. These are outcomes of the racism, white supremacy, and xenophobia built into our systems, structures, and policies, both past and present.
As an organization dedicated to ensuring that all Californians have access to the food, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, we cannot continue to stay silent as Israel, with US support, commits an active genocide and enables a looming famine against Palestinians in Gaza. As we write this statement, the death toll has surpassed 33,000. Starvation is escalating, and last month, hundreds of Palestinians were killed or injured in Gaza City awaiting life-saving aid and food. This month, seven staffers with World Central Kitchen were killed while providing critical food aid in the Gaza strip – causing them to stop all aid operations after the attack.
The systems of oppression that are at the root of hunger and poverty here in the US are interconnected with those that have led to the dehumanization, starvation, and systematic genocide of the Palestinian people of Gaza.
We call on the US to end support for the ongoing genocide of Palestinians and demand for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, humanitarian aid to be safely and efficiently given to the people of Gaza, and freedom from occupation for the Palestinian people.
Nourish California staff stand in strong solidarity with the people of Gaza. It is a privilege to be able to denounce US support for genocide publicly and we do not take this privilege lightly. We recognize that we are publishing this statement more than 5 months into active and ongoing genocide. Truthfully, we have struggled with how to show up in this moment as advocates, and ultimately we are called by our values and mission to demand justice and liberation for all Palestinians. No one is free until we are all free.
We recognize that we are not the experts in this space, and hope you’ll join us in looking to the leaders of this movement as we continue our ongoing learning. Please consider contributing to organizations and taking action to support the Palestinian community. The list below is not exhaustive, but serves as a starting point for updates, education, and leadership.
