07/10/2026
A parade in DC claims to celebrate free speech, liberty, and justice for all… UNTIL IT COMES TO PALESTINE!
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TAG: Palisades Community Assoc.
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How are DC and Palestine connected?
Why should Palestine be represented next year?
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This parade has always prided itself on being open and inclusive. Registration was always optional. This year, registration was required. So we submitted the form…
That’s when they told us–via a voice message and email–that we were NOT allowed to march in the parade.
Their reason? Vague “complaints” from previous years, with no concrete examples. They also claimed DC for Palestine promotes the boycott of “Jewish businesses.” That is false, and a dangerous, familiar distortion.
We asked for a phone call to clear things up, they refused and doubled down that “our registration was declined” and we were banned from the parade.”
So we sent a letter to clarify what we would’ve said in a conversation — we are lifelong DC residents, DCPS parents, artists, community advocates, even people who grew up attending this very parade. Our group includes people from all backgrounds – Palestinians and Americans… Muslims, Jews, Christians, and secular folks too. In past years, the response along the route was overwhelmingly supportive.
So we wonder… Why does a handful of vague complaints outweigh hundreds of people visibly welcoming us?
We corrected their claim about boycotting “Jewish businesses.” DC for Palestine’s work is about Palestinian liberation through education, community events, and local advocacy — a message of dignity for all people. Being pro-Palestine is not anti-Jewish.
Criticizing Zionism is not antisemitism. Opposing occupation, apartheid, and genocide is not hate. We all oppose antisemitism, Islamophobia, and bigotry of any kind.
We asked them to share the specific complaints…. But they did not.
Watch the reel for more of this story….
