Valentine’s Day: Baltimore loves Palestine

Baltimore, Feb. 15 — Organizers from the People’s Power Assembly (PPA) initiated a city-wide takeover of banner drops on high-visibility street corners and overpasses both to demonstrate that the movement for Palestine hasn’t slowed down one bit and to show Baltimore’s love for Palestine on Valentine’s Day weekend. 

Other endorsing local organizations like Baltimore Peace Action, Baltimore CPUSA, Johns Hopkins Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine (JHG-SJP), Veterans for Peace, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Organizers & Activists (MOA), and PSL also participated; each group dropped its banners at locations of its choosing. The unity of Baltimore’s movement for Palestine was on full display in an estimated 10+ locations around the city, with banners raising slogans like “Free Palestine! Divest from Genocide!” “ICE out of Baltimore,” “Baltimore Stands with Palestine,” “Say NO to Racism and War,” etc. 

In addition to holding banners, demonstrators also held cute heart-shaped signs that said “Palestine” in the middle and distributed literature to pedestrians about the upcoming film screening and special presentations at the Solidarity Center to honor the 60th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X, held on Feb. 22.

People’s responses to the banner drops were very positive, as there were lots of friendly and supportive honks from cars that passed by, and very few demonstrators were either harassed by Zionist supporters or given a hard time by city or university police. 

Following the success of the banner drops, the organizations all joined together downtown at McKeldin Square for a brief but powerful unity rally. PPA organizers passed out candy hearts with personalized messages that said “Love Not Genocide,” “Free Palestine,” and “Baltimore Loves Palestine” to other participating groups and passersby in the square. 

Despite the chilly weather, rain, and sleet, the crowd at the rally passionately chanted in support of Palestine and Baltimore workers, demonstrating incredible spirit.

Organizers from both PPA and MOA gave speeches emphasizing the importance of continuing to build and sustain the mass movement by interconnecting all of our struggles and organizing against a common enemy. 

This is the only way we win against the rising tide of fascism in this country. This action was our Valentine to Palestine. 

Imperialism will die in Palestine! From the river to the sea, Palestine is almost free! Capitalism will face defeat when workers fight back and hit the streets!

Below is a series of images (with captions) from the banner drops taken by organizers at some of the locations across the city: