On Aug. 2, 2025, Detroiters make noise demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza. Photo by Susan Van Gelder for News & Letters.
Detroit—“Bang bang bang BANG—Gaza!” was the chant as more and more people joined the Coalition Against Genocide’s weekly protest, striking empty pots and pans at Detroit’s regional wholesale food hub, Eastern Market. We are determined to stop the Israeli government’s ongoing siege and murder of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
A short noisy march on Aug. 2 drew honks and waves from drivers and the crowd of shoppers at the popular Saturday market. At the rally’s open mic, speakers made it clear that their protests were never only about releasing food, water and medicine into Gaza. A pre-school teacher told of how a little boy innocently saying “I’m dying of thirst” one hot day “broke my heart” as she thought of the children in Gaza who really were dying of thirst. That story shows the kind of education and empathy the American public still needs in order to comprehend the scope of the crisis.
A young woman with a sign, “400,000 dead in Gaza” representing Engineers against Apartheid, explained how Michigan is fostering new Israeli business, via the “Michigan Industry Business Accelerator.” This nonprofit pays no taxes on top of the $3.8 billion it receives each year from our tax dollars They already established an Israeli weapons manufacturer near Grand Rapids, Mich. Michigan used $5 million to help a company that is already refurbishing military vehicles for use in Gaza and Ukraine. “It’s time to stand up”: tech company products are already being used for surveillance by the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and in Dearborn. “It’s not just an issue for Gaza or Palestine; it’s against the community here! They’re not welcome: no tax dollars to fund the murder of innocent people.”
AGAINST STARVATION, AGAINST LYING
On Aug. 2, 2025, Detroiters make noise demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza. Photo by Susan Van Gelder for News & Letters.
A long-time activist proclaimed: “It is not antisemitic to say the people of Gaza are starving and we oppose Israel and Zionist actions!… It’s about so much more than baby formula. What about the moms, who can’t breastfeed because they’re starving, too? What about pregnant women, who have too little food to properly nourish their unborn children? And what about all the others, the children—how will they grow and develop after six months of malnutrition?”
Another activist revealed that the Canadian government is lying to its citizens; that it continues to support aid to Israel. He also told us that when Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was in the Middle East, they bribed some mothers with food to appear with him. “This administration doesn’t care about mothers, babies, Palestinians or human life: Witkoff is a front!” the activist proclaimed. To the banging of pans and shouts of “Shame!!” he added: “Not only is there genocide, starvation—they are committing political genocide with the help of 22 impotent Arab nations. They call for disarming Hamas, but why not everybody? They promise a Palestinian state but they don’t promise to build it. Already 143 countries have recognized a Palestinian state and that has done nothing.”
Speakers planned to continue to pressure Senator Elissa Slotkin, who had abstained from voting with her colleagues opposing more military support to Israel, despite emphasizing her concern about the lack of baby formula in Gaza. This weekly demonstration will continue and grow, as more people and organizations join forces and participate in other demonstrations like the Solidarity Fast for Gaza.
–Susan Van Gelder