More than 1,000 people carrying Palestinian flags marched around Turtle Creek Park on Sunday.
DALLAS — More than 1,000 people carrying Palestinian flags marched around Turtle Creek Park in Dallas on Sunday.
The demonstration caused the temporary closure of Lemmon Street and Oak Lawn Street. Dallas police officers blocked the road for oncoming traffic.
Organizers said this was the eighth rally since fighting began in October.
“We want a ceasefire now,” organizer Faizan Saeed said. “We want humanitarian aid in southern Gaza now.”
The group chose Turtle Creek because of its proximity to Sen. Ted Cruz's Dallas office. They called on the United States to halt military aid to Israel. Protesters say the military aid will be used against innocent people.
“Now is the time to stand up and speak out, because if we don't, 2.3 million people will already be hungry and without access to water,” Said said. “Their lives are in danger.”
The group includes people from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and they and many others support the Israeli government's withdrawal from Gaza, which they refer to as an “open-air prison.” .
“This has nothing to do with religion,” Said said. “This is about humanity. Will we as a nation accept that 2.3 million people have been living under lockdown for 18 years? Will we accept that unarmed people are being bombed every day?”
Khaled Mustafa, one of the marchers, said he grew up in Palestine.
“I was always hiding in the shadows,” he said. “No one talks about me. No one cares about me. Today, I see so many people care about Palestinians, and even more so when we talk about innocent Israelis.” We are here to speak out against all crimes against humanity.”
An imam led the group in prayer before the march. The speaker will also recite verses from the Quran.
Thousands of people, including civilians and children, have died in the conflict so far.
“Every day that passes, the situation in Gaza is getting worse and worse,” Said said.
In Tarrant County, several hundred people marched at a “Fort Worth Stands for Israel” rally. Similar protests have occurred across the metropolis since October.
