Banners and large Palestinian flags were carried by contingents of protesters from Boston; Dearborn and Detroit, Michigan; Chicago; Cleveland; and Paterson and other cities in New Jersey. In conjunction with the rally, several hundred young people attempted to picket just outside the White House gate. A throng of helmeted police sealed off the sidewalk and street, forcing them back into Lafayette park.

The action was organized by a coalition of Islamic centers and other Arab-American organizations. Among them were the American Muslim Council, Muslim Student Association, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Islamic Society of North America, and the Palestine Right to Return Coalition.

"I came because what is taking place in Palestine is horrible," stated Ahmad El-Tab, 15. He came with four busloads of people from the Paterson area, home to a large Arab community. "The Israelis think they are unbeatable and that the Palestinians should be their slaves. We are showing them in the streets that we are human beings," El-Tab said. He proudly pointed out that 30 students from his high school were also there.

"The U.S. media and government have taken the side of Israel," stated 26-year-old Ali Amin. He came with a busload from Chicago. Amin added, "We are here to show there is support in this country for the Palestinian people."

"We are described as those people who hate the Jews and are always fighting," said Alisah Alaq, who came with her family from Dearborn. "But the people of Palestine are like me--they have families, homes, and jobs. We are not fighting Israeli people. Our fight is with the Zionist government of Israel, which has stolen the Palestinian land."  
 
Clinton and Lazio smear Muslims
Some demonstrators expressed outrage at U.S. politicians who have smeared Arab immigrants as terrorists. They pointed to the senatorial campaign in New York, where Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton demonstratively returned a $50,000 donation from a Muslim organization after her Republican opponent, Richard Lazio, implied it was a "terrorist" group.

"It is as if money from American Muslims is not the same as it is from other Americans," remarked an indignant Rima Samo, who came with other Palestinian-Americans from Hawthorne, New Jersey.

Most of the speakers from the platform were leaders of Islamic organizations. Many of them called on the Clinton administration to take action to get negotiations resumed between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Some, like Khalid Turaani, director of one of the sponsoring Islamic groups, said the U.S. government was "pandering" to "the powerful voice of the Israelis," and argued, "Our administration has the responsibility to play an evenhanded role."

Speakers urged demonstrators to lobby the Democratic and Republican party presidential candidates.
 
 
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