Detroit, May 18 — When President Joe Biden’s schedulers agreed to have him visit Ford’s new electric F-150 pickup truck production line just ahead of its public unveiling, it must have seemed like a home run for the administration’s infrastructure plan. But today’s news here was about Palestine.
Biden’s visit coincided with a Palestinian Day of Action and general strike in Israel and the occupied territories against the murderous Israeli bombing of Gaza, the racist anti-Arab gangs fully supported by Biden and his administration, complete with a $735-million proposed weapons sale to the apartheid state.
And his speech was at a factory in the middle of the largest concentration of Arab people in the U.S. The only Palestinian member of Congress represents the district just two blocks away from the venue. Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell even met Biden at the airport to personally discuss U.S. Palestine policy.
A few thousand demonstrators chanting “Free Palestine!” gathered across the street from Ford Motors World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., at 1 p.m. today, timed to coincide with Biden’s speech at the historic Ford Rouge F-150 factory. The day’s unity of Iraqis, Syrians, Lebanese, Palestinians, Kashmiris, Yemenis and many other nationalities was recognized from the stage, as well as a chant that “Black lives matter.”
But this was only one action. Just blocks from Ford’s “green” plant venue for Biden’s speech, a 10 a.m. news conference was held in the neighborhood mosque. Later, demonstrators rallied and marched in the working-class Arab community bordering Detroit.
Banners were dropped over the I-94 freeway. They read: “Sanction Israel Now” and “Biden: End U.S. Aid to Israel & Invest in Communities — $3.8 Billion/Yr.”
More demonstrations are planned.
See more details and photos at Arab-American News.
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