“Killing the Flowers Will Not Delay Spring”
Community Renewal Society (CRS) hosted a peace sojourn to Jerusalem in solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israel’s illegal occupation and dispossession of their land. It is important for us to be present in the margins and serve as a prophetic voice in the wilderness. Our faith-based platforms can raise awareness and become tools to dismantle oppression in our city, nation, and world.
Our hearts were broken by the evidence of state-sanctioned violence, militarized policing, and systemic disinheritance. Moreover, the current reports of starvation in Gaza—alongside ongoing indiscriminate bombings, and the blockade of essential aid, including medical supplies, nutrition, and personal hygiene products—substantiate the charges of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The grief and trauma of such loss are unbearable. More than 120 children were killed under the cover of night as they slept, victims of Israeli military bombings. These children had already been robbed of their schools, libraries, playgrounds, houses of worship, and family homes. Now, they have been robbed of the sanctity of life itself—many becoming ancestors far too soon.
The innocence of childhood play and freedom eludes the innocent, as they are victimized by those who exploit war, greed, and bigotry for power. Our predominantly Black delegation—comprising representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, and the Caribbean—was privileged to meet with Palestinian human rights leaders from across the region, including in Hebron. We humbly presented a Pan-African flag, long connected to movements for Black lives, including Black Lives Matter (BLM). The flag was hung alongside several Palestinian flags in our host’s home—displayed with love and symbolic of our shared struggles.
We were heartbroken to learn that Jewish settlers raided our host’s home and burned the flags. This act is reminiscent of the terrorization endured by Black communities in the United States—burning crosses, bombed churches, and lynch mobs. These crimes against humanity must end. There must be accountability for the violent, racist acts that disproportionately result in the demolition of Palestinian homes, the loss of land, and the loss of lives.
We are also aware of the recent shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum. We denounce such acts of violence and affirm that they do not represent the movement of love, hope, peace, and freedom that we support.
We pray for a lasting ceasefire and the right to return to an independent state free from military occupation. We pray for leaders brave enough to choose peace over profit and love over hate. We pray for a free Palestine where children can thrive and peacefully dream at night, free from the fear of bombs.
Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton
Executive Director