Visions from North Gaza

and soooo many cool February events.

In the last week, I have received dozens of videos and photos of my dear friends returning home to the north Gaza Strip. I’ve seen extended families in the backs of delivery trucks sitting atop all of their possessions; children weighed down with all they can carry, walking for many kilometers with huge smiles on their faces; I’ve seen people shoveling rubble from third-story blown-out apartments; children standing on mounds of rubble that used to be their homes; Sisters reuniting after 15 months of separation, never knowing if they would see each other again; and the remnants of schoolwork found under debris. In the typed messages and the recorded voices of my friends, I have heard the shaking worry, and immense grief from all of the devastation. How do they rebuild, and with what? How do they repay the massive loans they have taken out over the last 15 months to survive? Families with campaigns showing thousands received have used the entirety of it, and owe thousands more.

It is vital we keep going.

Urgent needs:

• Ahmed’s GFM campaign was closed down before the beneficiary transferred any money out of it. He has spent the last 4 months raising more than $6,000 to help him rebuild his life, and it was all returned to donors. Can you imagine losing $6,000? What that would mean for your life? Here is his new campaign.

• Heba still needs help repaying her son’s surgery. If it goes on without being paid in full she risks imprisonment.

Raffles and online fundraisers:

1. Will you free my Palestine? 2. Act Fast! 3. Habibi

1. Will you free my Palestine? — the winner will be drawn on Valentine’s Day, February 14 💕 Two items in this bundle. The first item is this light pink hand-stitched sweatshirt in size XXL, and the second item is a cross-stitch piece in a 4” hoop with the word “habibi”, which is a term of endearment in Arabic to friends, family, and loved ones. Donate $10 per entry to one of these families in Gaza:

   1. The Albatarikh Family

   2. Khaled Family
      Then DM @sleepyjapanesey a screenshot of your receipt, for the Valentine’s Day raffle. OR send me your receipt and let me know it’s for this and your address and I will send the message along. (delivery within U.S. only)

2. Act Fast! — Our highest cоntributоr of the weekend will receive these stunning Kеffiyеh Beaded Earrings. Ends on Sunday, 2/2 at 11:59 pm CST. For many Ojibwe peoples, beadwork is a form of prayer, storytelling, and rеsistаncе. Each earring, woven with over 600 beads into a kеffiyеh/shemagh pattern, symbolizes interconnected struggles for libеrаtiоn from Turtle Island to Fаlаstin. Beading pattern, beadwork, and contribution by Jonelle Walker (FDL Ojibwe, Syrian, Swedish). Finished with stainless steel ear hooks. Thank you @jonnellewalker 🤍
   Comment or DM this account (or send me a message) if you want to participate.

   1. Link to donate here

3. Habibi — The winner will be drawn next week on February 7. This hand-stitched sweatshirt with the Arabic word “HABIBI”, meaning “my love”/“darling”, a term of endearment for friends, family, and loved ones. Donate $10 per entry to any of these families with small children in G4z4:

   1. Dina and Mohammed

   2. The Albatarikh Family

   3. Khaled Family
      Then DM @sleepyjapanesey a screenshot of your receipt, for the Habibi raffle. OR send me your receipt and let me know it’s for this and your address and I will send the message along. (delivery within U.S. only)

PDX local events:

1. My birthday party. 2. Fundraising day. 3. Poetry for Palestine. 4. Dancing for Hope. 5. Zine making night. 6. Clothing swap.

1. My Birthday Party — Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30 pm at 516 SE Morrison St.

   1. RSVP here

2. Fundraising day — Big Fundraiser Day for Alaa Saturday, February 8th @wallflowercoffeeco (3158 SE Division St)

   1. Come through for a specialty drink and pastry collaboration hosted by Wallflower Coffee. Wallflower and Molly Kimball will offer an Okinawan brown sugar caramel latte with a miso brown butter marshmallow, Jen’s Pastries will be providing their famous pumpkin donuts, and Mana Gale will be providing a sweet potato cinnamon bun. 100% of proceeds support Alaa.

3. Poetry for Palestine — February 14th at 6:30 pm at 4212 NE Prescott

   1. Join us in creative community on February 14th to celebrate love in action. Poetry, music, art, refreshment, & resistance to benefit the work of liberation in Palestine and everywhere. Read poems/prayers/lyrics in your own words or those of a beloved revolutionary, or just come to offer your energy and absorb the words of others.

4. Dancing for Hope — February 15th at 6:00 pm at 516 SE. Morrison St.

   1. Musicians: Jim Grippo (qanun) @qanunji23, Emrah Korkmaz (saz) @emr.krkmzz, Daniel Moltke (violin) @daniel.moltke, and David Reihs (percussion) @dhavir_productions, with dance performances by @alwadi.dance, @hennadances, & @ellamooredance. Proceeds will go to the PCRF, who will be on-site with information about their organization and to collect donations. Suggested donations of $10-$20 per person. No one turned away.

5. Zine Making night — Friday, February 21st at 6:00 pm at 8105 SE Stark St.

   1. Just me with my supplies hanging out at Roscoe’s, hoping you’ll join me to work on/learn about zines.

6. Clothing Swap — Sunday, February 9th 1:00-4:00 pm Tryon Life Community Farm 11640 SW Boones Ferry Rd.

   1. Totally inclusive!!! Come and exchange your old overalls for a slip dress, your baggy jeans for a skirt, a t-shirt for a blouse, or your heels for some sneakers.

Highlighted merch:

Get this sick-as-hell apron to keep your clothes clean when the time comes to EAT THE RICH. Art by me, all proceeds from sales go to families in Gaza.