West Street Recovery Calls for a Ceasefire

At its core, West Street Recovery’s work is about respecting the dignity of all people. We formed to combat the dehumanization and disrespect that poor people, Black and Brown people, non English speakers, and immigrants face from the government aid apparatus after disasters. For six years we have been building an interclass and interracial community fighting for a more just world, because we know that justice for any of us requires justice for all of us.

This past month, we have witnessed violence against Palestinian people facilitated by dehumanizing rhetoric and a worldview that some lives are worth more than others. We have watched our government pledge its unwavering support for the continuation of this violence. This support continues in the face of daily warnings from experts at the United Nations, Human Rights watch and others that Israel is carrying out collective punishment that is a crime against humanity. As Human Rights Watch states, atrocity can never justify atrocity.

Many of us living in the United States are drawing the connection between Israel’s apartheid policies and governance and the environmental injustice, denial of safe housing, and racist police repression that we struggle against daily in our work. And, it is not lost on us that we had to fight for 4 years to get $20M for life-saving drainage in Northeast Houston that will strengthen communities, while our government readily provides weapons to a government that is violating human rights.

This moment calls for us to use our moral courage and collective political power. As activists fighting for justice in this country, we must recognize the interconnectedness of our struggles globally.

As we stand for justice in Houston and the US, we stand for justice in Palestine. WSR calls for an immediate ceasefire. We also oppose the transfer of arms and the funding of the Israeli Military by the United States. We call for an immediate restoration of water and electricity to Gaza, and we demand an end to the political system that gives an occupying power the ability to control these life-sustaining services in the first place. We call on all of you in our community to do everything in your power to work towards these goals as well.

In the climate of escalating violence we are committed to combating antisemitism and islamophobia anywhere we find it. Please join us in that critical effort.

With love and solidarity,

WSR