At the ‘People’s Conference for Palestine’ in Detroit, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic Squad member, delivered a fiery, expletive-filled speech denouncing the United States and pro-Israel politicians. Tlaib, the first person of Palestinian descent elected to Congress, lambasted Israeli leaders and their supporters, asserting that the Palestinian community’s resilience has not been extinguished despite decades of violence and displacement.
She accused the U.S. political system of being built on oppression and genocide, drawing a direct link between the government’s actions in Gaza and its domestic policies. Tlaib stated that the treatment of Palestinians is mirrored in the erosion of healthcare and food assistance in the U.S., emphasizing that the U.S. government is complicit in the suffering of both Palestinians and Americans.
Tlaib’s speech follows her previous censure by the House of Representatives for anti-Israel comments and a controversial video that featured the pro-Palestinian slogan ‘From the river to the sea.’ The conference, organized by pro-Palestinian groups, has faced scrutiny for including speakers with extremist views, such as former Israeli prisoners released via a Hamas deal. Despite this, the event has drawn significant attention and support from advocates of Palestinian rights.
The conference, held over three days, included a variety of speakers and discussions, with some participants criticizing the United States as an ‘evil empire’ driven by greed. A Ph.D. student in economics, Sachin Peddada, urged the pro-Palestinian movement to dismantle the ‘idea of America’ in the minds of Americans, arguing that the U.S. is complicit in broader systems of oppression.
While the conference has drawn attention for its radical speakers, it has also served as a platform for advocacy and solidarity within the Palestinian community. However, the presence of extremist voices has raised concerns about the event’s legitimacy and the broader implications for the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S.