“When global powers support war policies, they give a green light to oppression everywhere. What happens in Palestine today can happen anywhere tomorrow.”
Saed Erziqat, General Secretary of the General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT) gave the following speech at Arise‘s eve of May Day rally against Trump’s War Drive
We are meeting at a very dangerous moment in our world. A moment when war is being normalized, when violence is presented as policy, and when powerful leaders push humanity toward more destruction.
When we talk about Trump’s war drive, we are not speaking only about one person. We are talking about a political project. A project based on militarism, racism, hatred of migrants, and contempt for workers, teachers, and the poor. This project promotes war as a solution. It supports occupation. It justifies killing. And it silences voices of justice.
From Palestine, we know very well what this means. For decades, our people have lived under military occupation. Our land is taken. Our homes are demolished. Our children are arrested. Our teachers are harassed at checkpoints. Our schools are attacked.
War is not a theory for us. It is our daily reality.
When global powers support war policies, they give a green# light to oppression everywhere. What happens in Palestine today can happen anywhere tomorrow. That is why this struggle is global.
As a teacher and as a trade unionist, I want to be very clear:
War is always against education.
War destroys schools.
War traumatizes children.
War steals the future.
In Gaza and the West Bank, students try to learn under bombs, raids, and fear. Teachers continue teaching despite unpaid salaries, closures, and constant threats.
Why? Because education is an act of resistance. Teaching is a form of hope. Those who push for war fear educated people. They fear critical thinking. They fear solidarity.
That is why they attack unions. That is why they attack migrants. That is why they attack public education.
But history teaches us something very important: When workers unite, when teachers speak out, when people organize internationally, war agendas can be challenged.
Globalizing the resistance means refusing to be divided. It means saying that Palestinian lives matter. That migrant lives matter. That Black lives matter. That working-class lives matter everywhere.
It means standing together against all forms of racism, colonialism, and militarism.
Our message today is simple and clear:
No to war.
No to occupation.
No to racism.
No to authoritarian leaders who profit from blood and fear.
And yes to solidarity.
Yes to justice.
Yes to peace based on dignity and equality.
Yes to education, not militarization.
Friends, the voices of teachers, workers, and ordinary people are stronger than bombs if we unite. Borders should not divide our conscience. Silence is not neutrality. Silence is complicity.
From Palestine, I bring you a message of resilience. Despite everything, we are still standing. Still teaching. Still believing in freedom.
Let us globalize the resistance. Let us turn international solidarity into real pressure. Let us defend life against war. Thank you for standing with Palestine. Thank you for standing for peace. Thank you for standing on the right side of history.
- Watch this speech here.
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