FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 3, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
Protesters Disrupt Middle East Symposium in Yorba Linda, Condemn "Normalization of Zionism"; Attacked by Attendee on Scooter
Yorba Linda, CA — CODEPINK, Catholics for Palestine, and Palestinian Christians for Justice disrupted a symposium titled "America and the Middle East in the 1970s: From the Yom Kippur War to the Camp David Accords" held in Yorba Linda on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The coalition of peace activists was there to protest the normalization of Zionism, hate, and misinformation presented at the event.
The symposium, which featured Israeli delegates, psychologists, and educators, was the focus of the activists' ire, as they accused the speakers of perpetuating "Israeli propaganda." The protest was intended to confront these narratives, particularly in a conservative city like Yorba Linda, where the protesters believe the audience may be predisposed to supporting these views.
The protest escalated when a man on a scooter assaulted the activists by intentionally ramming into them, at one point pinning a protester against a corner. Another man allegedly engaged in physical confrontations with the predominantly female group, attempting to intimidate them. According to the peace activists present, the room was charged with hostility, and security guards reportedly accused them of instigating the conflict. One security guard was said to have repeatedly laid hands on a protester.
Police were called to the scene, with some protesters seeking to press charges. However, the initial response from the officers was to threaten to tow vehicles belonging to the protesters, as they were still on the property rather than on the sidewalk as directed.
In conjunction with the symposium, the Nixon Foundation is hosting an exhibition titled "The Ancient World: Unlocking the Middle East," which features artifacts from "Ancient Israel." The protesters condemned the exhibition, arguing that it seeks to erase Palestinian history and the suffering of the Palestinian people.
"For over 75 years, Israel and the U.S. have controlled the narrative about the Middle East," said Priscila, a spokesperson for the protesting groups. "This is yet another example of the U.S. and Israel dominating the narrative and attempting to erase the Palestinian people. The exhibit fails to mention the Nakba, ethnic cleansing, and other atrocities experienced by Palestinians. We are here to disrupt this narrative and demand a true account of history, including the depictions of Palestinian resistance. The timing of this exhibit isn't accidental; it serves to justify past and present actions of Israel and the U.S. We will not stand by and allow that."
The protesters underscored their ongoing commitment to challenging U.S. imperialism and its impact on the Middle East, as well as Israel's role in the region's continuing instability.
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