Palestine. Free Palestine. Free Palestine. Palestine Palestine. [Applause] [Applause] today's program by asking some of our
community members to join us in sharing a few stories of our Palestinian martyrs. As we mark 21 months, almost two years of genocide, we continue to remember and honor every one of our martyrs. And today we honor specifically
stories of our Palestinian fathers. [Applause] Muhammad Abul Kumsan, father of twins lost at the gateway to official dump. In August 2024, Huh Abul Kumsan made a brave journey with his 4-day old twins
to obtain their birth certificates. A mundane hopeful act for any parent. But as soon as he left government offices in Dalah, an Israeli raid struck their apartment. Muhammad returned to find his
newborn son, newborn daughter, their mother and grandmother, all killed by Israel. He returned that day not as a father of two, but as a man forced to bury his
future. His story highlights a gut-wrenching irony. As Palestinians, you could lose your life before it even begins. [Applause]
The de Albala father who dug his children out with bare hands. In De Albala, a father returned to his home after an air strike flattened it. He screamed the names of his children, wife, and mother. No answer came. With
no rescue teams in sight, he began digging with his bare hands. He found his son first, then his daughter, then his baby. All lifeless. He kissed their foreheads, dusted off their faces, and cradled them like he used to after
bedtime. He refused to leave them there. Neighbors helped them carry their bodies, and he buried them side by side. There were no funeral prayers that day, just grief, silence, and the love of a father who refused to let his children
be forgotten. There's a way to do it. I just can't remember it. I just can't. The father who refused to leave without his son at the Rafa crossing, a father with paperwork in hand, he held foreign citizenship. He
was cleared to evacuate, but his son's body was still buried under rubble in Han Ununice. "I will not leave him behind," he said. "He's my son. He's not just a number." Aid workers begged him to go to save his own life. He refused.
"My son is still here, and so I stay." This father's choice is one many Palestinians face. Safety or memory, escape or loyalty? And time and time again, they choose to stay in loyalty to their family, to their homeland, and because there is no other choice but to
do that. [Music] Khaled Napan, widely known as Abdul, became emblematic of her grandfather's grief and devotion when in December of 2023, footage surface of him cradling
his six-year-old granddaughter Re. He whispered her and whispered soul my soul. That brief moment of tenderness captured a grandfather's immense heartbreak. But his story did not end there. On December 16th, 2024,
an Israeli airirst strike struck Mus camp. Khaled, now a beloved figure who's been distributing food and water in his community, was killed just hours after the video went viral. His granddaughter and grandson had already been killed in earlier strikes. He became a symbol of
generational love and rejection of normalization, reminding us that even in the worst darkness, Palestinian elders teach humanity. The father who sang his daughter to rest. At Al-Naser Hospital, one of the
only operating hospitals left in southern Gasa, a father sat beside the lifeless body of his toddler. She was wrapped in a blood stained white cloth, eyed shut, cheeks pale, and then he
began to sing. It was a lullabi she used to love before bed, the soft tune. She would fall asleep during safer times. But now he sang it as a farewell. His
voice cracked, tears stream down his face. Still he sang because that was all he could offer her at the moment. No protection, not a safe home, just his
voice. A final lae. A song of love. loss and the unbearable truth of what it means to be a father in Gaza today. [Applause] In Gaza City, a father named Abu Taha served survived an Israeli bombing, but
no one else did. his wife, his five children, his siblings, his parents gone in one moment. He was left alone, standing in the rubble where his home once stood. When a journalist asked him how he was still
standing, he said, "I can't explain it. My soul left with them." And yet, every day he goes back to those rooms. He brings flowers. He brings food his children once loved. He talked to them out loud as if they were still there. He
says he will not leave Gaza. He will stay with them. He will tell their story again and again until the world can't look away. [Applause] The Jabalia father who died shielding
his children. In Jabalia refugee camp, a father was found lifeless beneath the rubble. He had no name listed in the initial reports, just a single photograph. He was wrapped around his three children, arms still holding them.
His body was positioned to shield theirs from the blast. None of them survived, but his last act was protection. Witnesses said it looked as though he had seconds, just seconds, to throw himself over his children when the
missile hit. The image of a father's body encircling his children in death was not the first and sadly not the last. Because in Gaza, fatherhood means standing between your children and a missile.
[Applause] In Raf, just months into the genocide, a father clawed through the rubble of what used to be his home. Dust and blood filled the air. Israeli airirst strikes had just flattened the neighborhood. And then he heard a faint sound. He pulled
back shattered concrete and broken wood to finally find his infant daughter covered in dust, bruised but breathing. He cradled her against his chest, crying out, "Yabindi yohim, my daughter, my soul." His face showed disbelief,
gratitude, and agony all at once. She was his only child left. That image of a Palestinian father holding his barely alive daughter in the ruins of their home spread across the country just not as a symbol of survival but as a symbol
of what Palestinian fathers face every day. The demand to always be the protector and the saviors even as the world continues to dehumanize them. In early 2024, an Egyptian cousin shared how his uncle, father of five, including
a university student, went out during the raid to find food. He never came back. Although military log said he wasn't detained, family has have received no word. He vanished into Gaza's black box of disappearance.
Living five leaving five children shattered and no father to tell their story. He res represents the thousands of Palestinian men who are missing, taken, or killed in ways that make remembrance feel like both necessity and
burden. Thank you. Thank you to all the members of our community that shared a story today. I hope that you listen very carefully as every story that they shared is just one
of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians that were killed in this genocide and even before then. [Music] [Applause] Good evening everyone. My name is Basm Sharat the Palestine Education Director at the Palestinian American Community
Center. On behalf of all of the PAC staff and board of directors, I want to thank you all for joining us here at Patterson City Hall for yet another Palestinian flag raising. I want to thank Mayor Andre Sai for always putting this to flag raising together and being
supportive. I also want to thank Deputy Mayor Rahed Oda and Maria Del Palar, Deputy Mayor, I'm sorry, Deputy Mayor Maria Del Palar for joining and being in attendance with us today. I want to thank the members of the Patterson City Council. Councilman Lewis
VeZ, Councilman Ibrahim Omar, Councilwoman Dr. Alisa Mims, Councilman MD for Fared Uden, Councilman Michael Jackson, Councilman Shaheen Khalik, Councilman Alex Mendes, Councilwoman Ruby Cotton, Councilwoman Marita
Davilla, and I also want to thank for and thank him for being in attendance, Patterson Corporation Council Aiman Abushi, P County Commissioner Candidate Mike Raaglia. I want to also thank the support of Christina Schwartz
and the Patterson Board of Education Commissioners, Vice President Joel Ramirez, Commissioners Kenneth Rosado and Hector Nves. I want to also thank in attendance Islamic Center of P County President Ibrahim Fahi
and the Amar Mazjid um board president Ahmed Badas and members of the board in in attendance today. I also want to thank Clifton Board of Commissioner um Elias Ragda for also being in attendance today. We appreciate the support of all our members of
council and those in office that continue to support our flag raisings and all that we do. Now to start us off, I would like to invite members of our Arabic program to sing us a song in honor of the martyrs
of Palestine. We want to thank Shaheen for leading the Arabic program and all of their teachers. [Music] E [Music] [Applause]
shall. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
[Music] [Applause] are the daddy. [Applause] [Applause] [Music]
[Music] E Ring. [Music] [Music] [Applause] for you.
Don't for [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Nobody [Music]
[Music] to [Music] Dura [Music] [Music] [Applause]
[Music] [Applause] [Music] We [Music]
are all about [Music] shy. [Applause]
Thank you to our Arabic program and all their teachers. Next, I would like to to invite to center us with a dua and a prayer. [Applause] Alhamdulillah. Phil,
[Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Inshallah. Inshallah. [Music] [Music]
Philistine [Music] [Music] [Music] Philarot Philistine. for
[Music] [Music] Philistine. [Music] [Music] [Music] Philistines. [Music] Look at
[Music] Fore [Music] philanth. [Music] We have [Music] Yaki. [Music] A man.
[Music] [Applause] Thank you, Sheh Abdul Khal. The accomplishments that we have been able to to do together as a community would not be possible without the support of elected officials and our
involvement in civic engagement efforts. I would like to thank the mayor of Patterson, Mayor Andre Saiak, for his continuous support of Palestine and of our community and for signing the proclamation each year making this week known as Patterson's Palestine week. I'd
like to invite him to the stage to share a few words. Asalamu alaykum. I just want to take a moment to reflect on the success that we've had here in the city and in the surrounding area. This past Tuesday,
many of us went to the polls and we made sure that our assemblyman continues and will be in November and going throughout in January a Palestinian American AlaBiz. That's what I consider progress.
He's the first Palestinian American to serve in the New Jersey state legislature. And then when he vacated the seat, I want to commend the city council because they elected a Palestinian American, Ibraim Omar, to represent us in the
sixth ward. And you know, you have an ally in me here at city hall. But I do also want to take the time to acknowledge the courage of the city council because they continue to stand with Palestinians as
well. Even if it's not very popular with some people and it was three years ago when we took that bold step and we renamed Main Street Palestine Way. Now, every year on Palestine Wear, we
have Palestine Day. And I believe I lost count at 10,000 people that were here last month to celebrate Palestinian heritage and our Palestinian history as well. And I also would like to commend the
Palestinian American Community Center. For the last few years, my wife and I, Farhana, Damon Msuta, we send our children to PAC to learn about Palestinian culture, Palestinian heritage, and Palestinian history.
[Applause] I want to say this to those who are fully, right? I always say Falstini. You are resilient, but you are also brilliant. You are shining stars in our city.
You are improving our economy. You're improving our schools. You're improving our neighborhoods. And I don't want this to sound trit, but the city of Patterson is a better place
because Palestinians call it home. Thank you for coming to Patterson. So let's continue to speak the truth. Let's continue to stand for human rights. Let's continue to stand for
equal rights. And one day hopefully we'll be standing in the sovereign state of Palestine. Inshallah. [Applause] I now like to thank for being in attendance council president Alex Mendes
and would like to invite me to share a few words. Thank you so very much. Asalam alaikum. What a phenomenal afternoon is to be here in front of city hall with our definitely with what our great community our Palestinian community and for me
it's been such a great honor to be to serve in the city of Patterson because from the day one I've been one of the strongest supporter with my former councilman Al de Lasis we have the honor to rename uh main avenue as a Palestine
way we introduced a legislation for peace and ceasefire in Palestine and we've been working day and tonight supporting our community. But we not do this alone. I do this with the rest of my council colleague that strongly as one body we support our great community.
I see someone at council ki. I would like to call the councilman of the fifth floor council az. I also would like to call the councilman of the six war, councilman Ibrahim Omar, who we have the honor to appoint him
once our assemblyman elect again this past Tuesday went to Trenton to fight in Trento. Let's put our hands together for a great assemblyman out of the seas. For me, it was a phenomenal job. It was a phenomenal honor to work with him at the city council because he was a fighter
and I was supporting him every step of the way and in any any issue related with our brothers and sister in Palestine. I will pass the mic to my great councilman of the fifth floor council Luis A. Bles. Thank you council president. I don't
know a lot of words from the Arabic community. I don't know how to speak your language. I don't know even how to write your how you write for your community. But one thing I got to say and I always got to
say from the bottom of my heart that I have the Palestine community deep in my heart. I don't need to say asamaleo because I don't know how to pronounce it. Bye. I speak Spanish and English. But
one thing you have on me is that my office is right here and my office is open for your community and I will always stand strong to cease fire.
I always going to stand strong to pray for my brothers and sisters in an Arabic community. I always going to stand strong no matter the policy change. We are a city of immigrants and we
welcome immigrants to our city because what you see here today is what make Patterson different because you came to plant a seed to cultivate
back good manners and good things for the city of Paris. So God bless you all. Let's pray each other and let's stand strong as a community. Now I have the honor to introduce my great council of the sits for councilman
Ibrahim. Let's put our hands together for our great councilman. [Applause] Good evening and thank you all for being with us today. Raising the Palestinian flag is more than a symbol. It's a statement of identity, resilience, and
belonging. It reminds us of who we are, where we come from, and what we continue to stand for. To see this flag fly in a city that so many Palestinian families now call home is a sense of belonging. It tells the story of people who have faced displacement, oppression,
hardship, but they never lost their spirit. Today, we honor our roots. We honor those still enduring unimaginable conditions under occupation, especially in Gaza, where the suffering continues. But we also celebrate our contributions
here in this city, in this country where Palestinians are business owners, lawyers, educators, doctors, first responders, thriving students, and leaders helping to build a stronger and more united communities. Let this flag
be a reminder of our struggle, but also of our strength. Let it fly, not just as a protest, but as a promise. a promise that we will never forget who we are and that we will always stand for peace, dignity and the right to exist freely. Thank you, Jacel.
Thank you, Councilman Ibrahim Omar. Now, we have our councilman at large that is joining us right now at this time. Councilman large for realam Palestine. It is an absolute honor to get here together to raise the flag of our pride
Palestinian flag. And just know this, the contribution of Palestinian community is commendable. Whether we talk about economy, our culture or in politics and today we are not just raising flag, we are raising our voice at the same
time. voice for freedom, voice for permanent ceasefire and per and and voice for our rights and to all of you all the organization as a Muslim we have to be together and fight
together until our freedom is established. All right, good good talk everyone and thank you very much for joining us. This governing body has never been afraid to say free Palestine. [Applause] Thank you so very much.
Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you again, Council President Alex Mendes. Thank you, Councilman Ibrahim Ahmad, Luis Velas, and Fed Udin. Next, we want to acknowledge Assemblyman Alah Abd Aziz. He was the first ever
Palestinian elected city council and the first ever Palestinian and Arab American assemblyman. So I would like to invite Allah Abdaz assemblymen. [Applause]
Thank you. Are we sleeping? That's Are we ready to raise the flag? Yes. The kids want to raise it. So I bring my greetings now not as a councilman but now as a state assemblyman. So I give my greetings from
the New Jersey legislative district 35. And today we raise the flag proudly proudly for our contributions to the city of Patterson but to also to the state of New Jersey. And what I ask our community every single day we make
progress. Every single day we make contributions to our great state. Our community is a resilient community. Our community is a community that stands up for the vulnerable, for the people that don't have the the the benefits that
everyone else has. So I ask you as we stood here and made progress in Patterson, we make progress throughout the state of New Jersey. Get involved. Continue u speaking up and speaking loud and speaking proud about being
Palestinian and God bless you all. Thank you Abdaz. Thank you for all your support. Once again, we just want to reiterate we appreciate the support of all the council members and the elected officials that are here with us today.
Please note that PAC is a 501c3, so we do not endorse any candidates. We just appreciate the support that comes from everyone present. Next, I'd like to invite Patterson Corporation Council Amen Abushi. All right. Before I begin, I'd like to
have uh the city council back up here. Al, come back up here. Mayor Dalahon, uh Dia, where you come on up. Members of PAC, come on up. Joel, please come on up. Maria, come on up. Director Hector,
come on up. Deputy Mayor, please join us. Now, the reason why I wanted to deliver my my colleagues by my side is because come on up. The big makes it better. Is because I want Patterson to see your
representatives at work here. Yes. And I want Patterson to see what sticking together looks like. everyone up here and some people that that couldn't make it today and some people that we hear like Councilwoman Dava uh have always supported the Palestinian people, have
always supported the Palestinian cause. These same individuals have supported the Dominican community, the Peruvian community, the Puerto Rican community, the Bangladeshi community, the African-American community. And so when you see individuals come up here and
speak, I want you to know who usually stands around and behind them. And these are just some of those people. So with that solidarity, I'll say this. As we raise the Palestinian flag, let us raise the flag of hope, of peace, and for justice for all people all over the
world, but especially here in Patterson. Thank you all for the opportunity to speak. [Applause] [Applause] Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you so much for that
beautiful show of community and the support. I'd like to now share a few words on behalf of the Palestinian American Community Center. I am the Palestine education director, Basm Sharat, and and I'd like to share a few words on behalf of the board and staff at PAC.
Right now, as we gather in Patterson, our people in Palestine are under a siege. Israel has declared a total military closure on the occupied West Bank, sending in heavy forces to escalate its campaign of repression. In Gazda, where a genocidal war has raged
on for 21 months, Israel has now imposed a full internet blackout, silencing a population that's already been cut off from food, medicine, and safety. And in Jerusalem, Israel has blocked access to Alaka mosque, desecrating one of the
holiest sites in Palestine. Aid convoys are being denied, bombed, and manipulated. Palestinians are being killed while searching for food. and over 14,000 children are at risk of starvation. This is a genocide by
design. Today we stand in community, but we stand before you with heavy hearts, struggling. But despite the pain, we come together in this symbolic and powerful act of unity and resistance.
This is Palestine week, recognized by the city of Patterson and deeply rooted in our community. We mark it during one of the most horrific moments in our history. And it's also Father's Day weekend with Palestinian Father's Day to follow. A
time to honor those who protect, provide, and nurture even as they are denied the right to do so. Because in Palestine, to be a father is to be criminalized for doing just that. So, we began today's program honoring
martyrs who were fathers, men who bore the weight of the genocide while caring for their families. Among them is Muhammad Rabia, who was forced to speak with the US embassy and plead that his 14-year-old son, Ahmed, didn't deserve to be killed by Israel.
But Ahmed was denied life, both as a boy and as a man, before he even had a chance to become one. He was murdered simply because in the eyes of the Israeli regime, Palestinian boys are threats.
The question after his death wasn't why did this child die, but was he throwing a rock. And at the same time, our community continues to feel the sting of state violence here in the US. We remember and
think of Mahmud Khalil, a father who was forcibly separated from his family when undercover ICE agents arrested him. His wife Nood was left to give birth to their son Dean alone without Mahmood by her side. A federal judge has since
moved their case to New Jersey and has argued that this his detention for pro Palestinian activism is unlawful. But his story stands as a stark reminder. This system seeks to fracture us using every tool that they have to repress and
target us. The pattern continues with Lika, a young woman from our own Patterson who is now being detained by ICE for daring to also speak out in solidarity with Palestine. The targeting of Lika is not random.
It's part of a broader system designed to criminalize disscent, fracture our communities, and punish those who dare to resist. But our people are not fractured. They continue to stand together in unity and in strength. Across the world, our movements are
mobilizing. The global march to Gaza led by the Samud convoy sought to bring together activists from over 50 countries. Though they were se though they were hindered by Egyptian and Libyan authorities, the organizers have remained determined to reach Rafa
alongside the global march set to begin June 15. Prior to that, at sea, the freedom flotillaa carrying humanitarian volunteers and aid was violently intercepted by Israel in international waters. These acts of solidarity and the
brutal responses to them expose the sheer violence and impunity that Israel functions under to maintain its rule. We gather here today in Pal Patterson, our little Palestine. From an election that brought out hundreds of our community members earlier this week to
educational events, we have made Palestine week a tradition of memory and advocacy. So today, we raise our flags to say that Palestine will not be erased. Free free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free
Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free Palestine. Today we stand together as a tribute to Ahmed, as a demand for release and Mahmoods, as a message to every Palestinian denied the right to life. We stand here today in unwavering
solidarity and community. From Rafa to Ramla, from Patterson to Los Angeles, people are rising and that is the same message that we amplify here at PAC, echoed in the chants heard around the world. Our struggles are not
separate. They are deeply connected. With every act of state violence, we respond with unity. With every attempt to silence us, our voices go rise louder. And with every flag we raise, we reaffirm that our people will not be
erased. Thank you. With that, I'd like to invite Abuasa with the ArabAmerican Civic Organization. [Applause] [Music] Thank you very much.
Everybody wake up please. Free free Palestine. Free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Peace be upon you all. since I started this flag raising in 2012.
So this is will be the 16 years for this flag raising. For the past two years it's been very painful times crying our hearts out for
loved ones who lost their life back home. We should be all united against injustice, against injustice for the Palestinian people. For the
Palestinian people, people from this country we live in. I am bleeding on our law makers, Trump administration and the president himself to end the
massive genocide and total famine in Gaza. Free free Gaza. Free Gaza. Free free Gaza. Free free Gaza. Mr. President, your weapons which you
support Israel with, killing everything and anything in Gaza from young to old to from men to women, from children to newborn. Total destruction of schools, hospitals,
masks, churches, refugee camps which were assigned to be safe heaven zones for civilians. All this red lines being crossed when it
is going to stop. Israel still claim to be the victim every even they killed over more or more for 55,000 Palestinian mostly children and women and injured
over 130,000 Palestinian people when it's going to stop. Shame on you, Mr. President. It is time
now to end the bias. End the bias now. Palestine will be free. This country was built on equal rights and it hurts me to repeat a national anthem. Even me I am a veteran.
The anthem end with liberty and justice for all. Where is the justice for the Palestinian people? Free free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free Palestine.
That is a total lie in killing civilian Palestinian. This is a total genocide. Where is the justice for all? Mr. President, I'm pleading for an
immediate ceasefire in Gaza, ending the occupation since 76 years 76 years ago, and the destruction, and the settlement and the brutality for the Palestinian
people all over the Palestinian land. Eliminate all checkpoints throughout Palestine. Enough is enough. End the bias. End the bias. Today, tomorrow, and
forever, we stand in solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people until we prevail. Free, free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free
free Palestine. However, Palestine will be free. Thank you for coming today. Thank you. Earlier I spoke about Lika Kurdia. She is a Patterson resident that has been wrongfully detained by ICE for speaking
up for Palestine. She has sent us a statement in her own words that pack team member Barry Mahmood and deputy mayor and board president a board member Raha are going to be reading together. [Music]
[Applause] Salam. in the prophet. [Music] [Music] [Music] Salam. For milit foreign
[Laughter] speech. [Applause] I will now read the translation of statement. Peace upon the steadfast and proud.
Peace upon a people who taught the world the meaning of patience, dignity, and resilience. Peace upon the mothers who buried the remains of their children on street corners and still chose to keep living. Peace upon the fathers whose eyes wept
for the first time. And oh, what a brutal first time it was. Peace upon the wounded, tending to their wounds with the soothing remembrance of Allah the Almighty. Peace upon our noble martyrs, precious and beloved.
Peace be upon our glorious free prisoners who are charting the path to freedom. Peace upon the sleepless, exhausted doctors, makers of miracles. Peace upon those who pull the living from beneath
the ruins, from the darkness of rubble. [Applause] Peace upon the carrier pigeons of our time. Those whose journalism bears
bitter truths to the world. Peace upon the teacher who truly understands the command of God to read. Peace upon you, a people purified through your patience. To you, the free
people across the world, the rebels, the defiant, the unwavering. Peace upon you and our deepest respect. I write to you from a cold place, hoping my words may carry a little warmth amid the
tragedies, the suffering, and the unimaginable sto here. Still, I write with certainty, with full certainty, that we will all be free from this cruel injustice.
And I believe with all my heart, that I will meet you soon as a free woman, God willing. I send you my peace, my appreciation and my respect.
Accept my greetings and reverence Kia, daughter of Gaza and granddaughter of Nekba survivors from Yea. [Applause] Thank you.
Now, I'd like to call up a Patterson resident and pack community member to share a poem with us as we end today before we raise the flag together. [Applause] amlaykumst. It's me.
forchech. [Music] [Music] [Music] forchech. [Music] Free free Palestine. Free Palestine. Free free Palestine. Free free.
Free freez freez. Thank you guys. Thank you. For our final performance, we're going to ask the Arabic program students to come up. Once they are done, we are going to raise the flag together.
[Music] [Music] SW Aaron Aar the wind the wind is on Follow
[Music] [Applause] me. [Music] Obvious. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Victor
[Applause] [Applause] Victor [Applause] [Music] Malishine. Fore! Foreign! Foreign!
[Music] Look at the [Applause] beeh. [Music] [Applause] [Music] for me.
[Music] We love you. We love you. [Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Yeah. Heat.
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]
Sh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Yeah. Heat.
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat.
[Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music]