Weekly Digest: June 3rd

Hi y’all!!!

As you may have heard, CJAA will be revamping our weekly substack newsletter and turning it into a publication! You can expect a continuation of our weekly updates, but we’ll also be publishing statements, op-eds, and articles. Please dm our ig (@unc_cjaa) if you’d like to contribute in any way. Students and non-students alike are encouraged to contribute!

Local Happenings

6 defendants from the Triangle Gaza Solidarity Encampment had their first appearances in court on Thursday. The defendants took the chance to turn this court date into a rally & community gathering with free food for anyone that stopped by. Below is their statement:

Our work must always center Palestine, never allowing the repression of our movement on Turtle Island to overshadow the devastation and genocide being committed by the israeli apartheid state nor overshadow the liberation work happening in Palestine right now and since 1948.

Putting pressure on the District Attorney and court to drop our charges is not the only reason we encouraged people to show up here. We also wanted to take advantage of our court appearances to give food to anyone who needs it; build solidarity and trust; provide space to hear community grievances, knowledge, skills, resources, needs, and visions for the future; and make plans for actions that we can take to bring those visions into reality.

We must build up the physical and social infrastructure needed to support each other for the long haul, and to facilitate bigger and bolder actions that will put an end to the repressive violence in Palestine, and Turtle Island, and all the places we and our comrades call home.

We believe that as students and community members of universities that have historically uplifted, championed, and praised student movements, our demands, grievances, and actions are in step with past movements currently celebrated by these institutions. We call out UNC Chapel Hill for its oppressive and hypocritical call for police to brutalize their students and community and denounce their empty lip service in support of past student movements.

There are over 30 more defendants whose court dates will likely be at the end of July. Keep an eye out for updates and continue showing up in solidarity for community.

We will keep fighting for UNC Chapel Hill and other universities to end study abroad programs in the apartheid state of so-called Israel. We will keep fighting for them to stop buying and selling products manufactured by companies complicit in genocide. We will keep fighting for them to disclose, and we will keep fighting for them to divest!

Community members showed up in Durham on Friday to support a mother that faced CPS and DPD intervention against her newborn baby. The mother was targeted because staff suspected her to be unhoused. Follow @wanttobewelldoula on instagram for ways to help support her in the future.
On Saturday, Durham took to the streets for an “End the Genocide: Free Palestine, Free them All” action. Check out this post!!

Opportunities/Events/Ways to Get Involved Outside of CJAA

Today, the Durham City Workers Union (UE150) will be attending Durham City Hall to rally for fair pay. Durham City Workers have had a long struggle against the city for living wages, yet the Solid Waste department still has the lowest amount of wages and highest amount of Black workers.
- There will be a rally today at 6:30pm and the budget hearing is at 7pm at the Durham City Hall. Come to both if you’re able!!
On Tuesday, Refund Raleigh is holding a rally and will be attending the city council public hearing to voice opposition to a proposed budget that will increase funding for Raleigh PD. If you’re in the area, we strongly encourage you to attend and reject this budget!!!!
- The rally and sign-making will be on Tuesday, June 4th, at 6pm & the public hearing starts at 7pm. Both parts of the event will be at the Raleigh Municipal Building (228 W Hargett St).
Join the national call for mobilization for a Free Palestine this Saturday at the White House. Demands include: an immediate ceasefire, an immediate end to the siege on Gaza, the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners, and an end to the occupation of Palestine.
- The action will take place Saturday, June 8th, at 12pm. Check in with @pslcarolinas to find buses coming to DC from North Carolina.
This Saturday, Durham Beyond Policing and East Durham Community Design Project are hosting a community forum to engage with neighbors and address issues related to housing, gun violence, and youth programs. Food and masks will be provided, rsvp through bit.ly/june8forum.
- The event will take place on June 8th from 2-5pm at W.D. Rec Center(1308 Fayetteville St) in Durham.
Team Congo is coordinating a “30 Days for Congo” series on Instagram to educate about Congo. Check out this post for the schedule and tune in all month long!