The Day of Al-Quds is an internationally observed day of protest which occurs on the last Friday in the blessed Islamic month of Ramadhan. On Al-Quds Day, people of conscience irrespective of religious, racial, & ethnic backgrounds gather to express solidarity with all the oppressed human beings of the world and particularly the innocent civilians of Palestine who are victimized by the illegal, oppressive, and racist Zionist regime. This day is intended to bring people together, regardless of their background, to stand up against the injustices being perpetrated all over the world. It’s a day of remembrance and an expression of solidarity with all those who are oppressed. This Day is a reminder to always stand against the oppressors whatever form they take. Therefore as in previous years, in solidarity with all the oppressed of the world, specially the people of Occupied Palestine, Bahrain, Yemen, Nigeria, & Syria, continued occupation of great Al-Aqsa Mosque & usurpation of the Holy Land by the illegal Zionist regime, Muslim Congress organized nationwide demonstrations of Al-Quds Day in multiple cities in the US on Friday, July 1st, 2016 (Jumu’at ul-Wida).

Al-Quds Day demonstration were generally attended by very diverse crowd irrespective of their religious, ethnic, racial, gender, and age backgrounds. Rabbis’ representation Judaism and Christian Pastors stood shoulder to shoulder with their Muslim counterparts in denouncing the global terrorism and the Zionist state.

Despite of the plans of sabotaging Al-Quds rallies in different cities by Jewish Defense League (JDL), a known terrorist organization, the Al-Quds protests went through peacefully. We thank our volunteers, protesters, and Police departments of various cities including NYPD, Chicago PD, and Boston PD for appropriate security measures.

Summary of International Day of Al-Quds protests from different cities in the US are as below.

1. New York City (NYC)

The protests in NYC was held at Times Square (Corner of 42ns St & 7th Ave), one of the busiest places not only in NYC, but in the entire world. Despite heavy thunderstorms and the threat of tornados, New Yorkers regardless of their religious, ethnic, & racial background gathered together in the hundreds in support of Palestine and standing up against Zionism. They were met by extremists from the Jewish Defense League, a known terrorist organization which partnered up with the US Congress hopeful from Manhattan’s 10th district, Philip Rosenthal. Together they were planning to disrupt the peaceful Al-Quds rally. However their voices were drowned out, by the chants of Free Free Palestine & Free Free Al-Aqsa which forced them to ultimately disband. Banners, placards, slogans, and speeches by honorable guests highlighted the crimes of the Zionist state and demanded peaceful dismantlement of Israel. Participants of Al-Quds rally withstood the down pours and remained steadfast. Al-Quds volunteers also distributed flowers along with leaflet containing information on Israeli crimes to the passersby.

2. Chicago

This year about 350 people from various communities in Chicago came together to protest Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine. The protest was held at the Richard J. Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. The protest was endorsed & attended by people from all walks of life irrespective of their religious, racial, and ethnic background. The fact that the US provides over $3 Billion in aid to Israel was highlighted. The Jewish Defense League (JDL), a banned terrorist organization in the US, organized a counter demonstration which was attended by a handful of Zionist supporters. They were seen standing to the side of the rally in disapproval; however, no direct confrontations between protestors occurred.

3. Boston

AlQuds Rally in Boston was held at Copley Square with hundreds of attendees from Muslim and Non-Muslim backgrounds. Similar to NYC & Chicago, handful members of Jewish Defense League, a known terrorist organization were also present to counter demonstrate. The Al-Quds protesters chanted slogans against the apartheid Zionist regime and invited honorable speakers shed light on the plight of Palestinians & crimes of illegal Zionist entity and its imperialist masters.

4. Orlando AlQuds Day demonstration was held at Lake Eola Park where protestors marched through the park condemning the U.S government for its support of Israel and Saudi Arabia for their inhumane atrocities committed against the Palestinian and Yemeni people. Volunteers distributed brochures and flyers to park goers highlighting the numerous atrocities and crimes Israel is committing on a daily basis with US taxpayer money. Speeches by the scholars encouraged people to not only look at Quds day as a one day affair, rather, remember the oppressed people daily and speak out against injustice everywhere.

5. Los Angeles (L.A) Al-Quds Day protests was held in the community of Watts in Los Angeles where hundreds of protesters gathered to speak up against the crimes of illegal Zionist State and its continued occupations of the Palestinian lands and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Despite of their planning to disrupt the Al-Quds day rally in LA, Jewish Defense League after noticing the humiliation and failures of their plans in NYC, Boston, & Chicago decided not even to attempt. It is worth noting that JDL had announced disruption of Al-Quds rallies in 7 cities. LA started their Al-Quds hours after the other cities due to time zone difference.

6. Dallas AlQuds Day protest in Dallas was held in front of Federal FBI building and started with Friday prayers. Hundreds of protesters participated who were chanting slogans "NO JUSTICE NO PEACE - US out of Middle East" and "Free Free Palestine"- occupation is a crime". Honorable invited speakers shed light on the Zionist oppressors and its imperial masters.

7. Detroit

The International Day of al-Quds was commemorated in the Dearborn suburb of Detroit, with a special emphasis this year, on the amount of US Tax dollars being used to support the existence of the Apartheid Zionist Regime. The demonstration was attended by hundreds of protesters ranged in age, gender and ethnicity. Speakers focused on the many facets of oppression and injustice being perpetrated at home and abroad as a result of the oppressive American policy of unconditional political, financial and military support of the Apartheid Zionist Regime. With the encouraging honking of horns by those driving by, the attendees carried various signs and banners. Some of them read "My tax $$$ belong to my schools, my water, my life, not Israel" and "Money for jobs and education! Not for Israel's occupation". The event delivered a strong unified message that people of conscience won’t stand idly by and quietly watch oppression and injustice being perpetrated. They will stand up and speak out to demand Justice and Human Rights, in solidarity with the victims of oppression, wars and injustice.

8. Washington D.C Al Quds Rally in Washington D.C took place at DuPont Circle. Protesters from different ethnicities and religions attended the rally chanting against Israel atrocious activities and Zionist ideology. The rally incorporated Muslim Clerics, Christian Pastors and Jewish Rabbis. Despite of drizzling, the protesters kept on joining the rally. The participants promised to raise voice regularly in the Capitol City until this brutal regime dismantles.

9. Seattle In Seattle, Al-Quds Day demonstration was held in Downtown where dozens of protesters stood up, under the guidance of H.I Syed Abbas Ayleya & Rabbi Davod Feldmen, against the crimes of illegal Zionist state on Palestinians. The speakers also shed light on global oppression from Palestine to Pakistan, Nigeria to Bahrain, Yemen to Syria, Iraq to Afghanistan, Malaysia, Burma and USA and its connection to the Zionism and its imperial masters. People from different walks of life joined the rally with fellow Americans. Rabbi Feldmen eloquently spoke against the Zionism, occupation of the great Al-Aqsa mosque and Palestine by Israel, and the way the Zionists are manipulating the situation in the name of Judaism which in fact has nothing to do with their religion. People chanted different slogans and distributed fliers which contained listing of Zionist crimes. Some people stopped by to know more about the situation finally the rally ended by long chanting of slogans.

Other US Cities: Al-Quds Day protests in other parts of the US were also at busy location of the respective cities which are mention below. Each one these protests were attended by dozens of people of Muslim and Non-Muslim backgrounds alike to mark the International Day of Al-Quds. Placards and banners were raised highlighting the crimes of the Zionist state and slogans were chanted against Israel and its imperial masters. These protests had good support from people stopping by and asking questions and other honking the horns as they drive by in support of our stand for Palestinian cause.

10. Portland (Pioneer Court House)

11. Tampa (Major City Intersection)

12. Sacramento (Downtown 16th & J St)

13. St. Louis (Galleria Mall)

14. San Francisco (Major City Intersection)

15. Salt Lake City (In Front of the Main City Library)

16. Raleigh/Durham (Five Points Intersection)

17. Atlanta (In front of CNN Headquarter)