David Solnit

Nakba Day reminds us that memory itself is an act of preservation. When homes were erased, when villages disappeared from maps, and when families were scattered across borders, art became the archive that couldn’t be destroyed. This spirit of resistance has taken physical form through sister murals spanning from Silwan in occupied Jerusalem to San Francisco and Washington, DC. The journey began on May 15, 2021, when the “We Will Return” mural was painted in San Francisco by protesters and designed by @cgazaleh , @didiyalla , @davidsolnit , and the @palestinianyouthmovement . In response, Silwan artists @iwitness_silwan and @artforces , working with @palestinianyouthmovement , painted the “We Will Remain” mural. Dedicated to the six freedom fighters who escaped Gilboa prison through a tunnel, it stands as a testament to the refusal to disappear. The message continued in Washington, DC, with the “We Will Liberate” banner created by @dmvpym alongside @soobiidoo , @nomu.nomu , and @vyvu.art . In Silwan, East Jerusalem, where ancient stones hold centuries of stories, artists continue to paint over walls that try to silence them. Every brushstroke becomes testimony. Every mural becomes a witness. Every song carries the names of places that still exist in memory even when they’re absent from official maps. This Nakba Day, we honor not just what was lost, but what persists: the colors, the songs, the poetry, and the hands that keep creating despite everything. Because art doesn’t just document history; it refuses to let it be rewritten. Together with solidarity organizers, we call for a free Palestine and forge connections across borders. We uplift the calls to remain, return, and liberate. Honor Their Story. Join Their Fight. Check your local PYM chapter for more details. #Sumud #FreePalestine #RightofReturn #LiberatePalestine #SaveGaza

INTERFAITH PILGRIMAGE FOR PALESTINE  On Saturday 500 people—including leaders from many faith traditions—participated in an all day (pre) Mother's Day pilgrimage that returns to the root meaning of the day by demanding an end to war profiteering and honoring the sacredness of all children. We walked 12 miles from Oakland City Hall to the Oakland Airport (some the entire way, others one or more legs of the journey) to spiritually call for a divestment from war and an immediate end to military cargo shipments from our local Oakland airport to Israel.  We are witnessing a massive assault on the lives of the children of immigrants here in the US, and children in Palestine, Iran, and Lebanon.  As James Baldwin said: "the children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe."We hear their cry, from Oakland to Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. This year our eyes signs are made with a photo from Silwan murals in occupied Jerusalem; the Eyes of the Blind Man Who Consented to be Given Sight by Jesus. I Witness Silwan (iwitnesssilwan.org) is a public art project in support of the resistance to the expulsion of the Palestinian residents of Silwan. Murals depicting the eyes of local and international leaders, activists, workers, and more, are scattered across the hills of Silwan and can be seen from miles away. When the Pilgrimage arrived at the entrance Oakland Airport Fed Ex air shipment facility--who ships arms to Israel--they shut down for the day, turning away trucks and workers. The Pilgrimage arrived at the Oakland Airport, walking through the entire indoor and outdoor terminals, singing: Palestine will be free Palestine will be free We will not avert our eyes Palestine will be free and Let Gaza live, Say Yes to Life! Divest from War and Invest in Life! Let Gaza live, Say Yes to Life! If you're blessed with life, then protect this life. Photos # 2,3 and 5 by Leon Kunstenaar @oaklandarmsembargo @im4humanintegrity

Interfaith Pilgrimage for Palestine: Divest from War, Invest in Life Leg 5 (of 5): Oakland Airport "This Mother's Day weekend, we are honoring the holiday's historic roots as a call of Mother’s against war, lifting up the suffering of children in Palestine and in every region where violence persists." 500 walkers. 12 miles split into 5 legs. From Oakland City Hall, to the Oakland Port Commission, through Alameda, past FedEx at the airport and ending at the Oakland Airport itself. "Today, over 500 people of diverse religions, [and Bay Area communities] are walking in prayer and protest to recenter the children of Palestine whose safety and lives are being threatened by Israeli bombs paid for by US Taxpayer dollars. We believe that every child is sacred and we are calling on the Oakland Mayor and Port authorities to cease all military cargo shipments from the Oakland airport to Israel." "The pilgrimage route — beginning at Oakland City Hall, passing by the Port Commission who governs the ports, through Alameda, and concluding at the airport itself — is designed to call public attention to the decision-makers and many Bay Area corporate actors who are involved in shipping weapons of war. The Oakland Airport and Fed-Ex are shipping F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel which surveil and bomb Gaza and have been linked to recent strikes on Iran and Lebanon." "Our Interfaith pilgrimage advocates for: - Recentering sacredness of children in Gaza, Palestine - End to the genocide, ethnic cleansing and torture of the -Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. - Cease all military cargo shipments from Oakland Airport to Israel - Implement a permanent policy to prohibit the use of Oakland’s public infrastructure and finances for military transfers to any country committing war crimes. - Support Block the Bombs legislation nationally" @interfaith4ceasefire @oaklandarmsembargo @bayresistance @jvpbayarea @interfaith4palestine

INTERFAITH PILGRIMAGE FOR PALESTINE Photos from todays final art-making build to. prepare. SILWAN EYES: This year our signs are made with an image from Silwan murals in occupied Jerusalem; the Eyes of the Blind Man Who Consented to be Given Sight by Jesus. I Witness Silwan (iwitnesssilwan.org) is a public art project in support of the resistance to the expulsion of the Palestinian residents of Silwan, occupied Jerusalem. Murals depicting the eyes of local and international leaders, activists, workers, and more, are scattered across the hills of Silwan and can be seen from miles away. “The staring eyes say to people that we see them and they should see us too…we want to say that we are here — we love our land and our home.”- Jawad Siyam, Director of Madaa-Silwan Creative Center Many hands made 500 hand sewn, screenprinted and painted prayer scarves for those walking in the Pilgrimage.  Join us May 9 for a 12-mile pilgrimage through Oakland — walking in public to call for an end to military cargo shipments from Oakland to Israel. Across faith traditions, we proclaim: Divest from war. Invest in life. Step by step, we carry our grief, our prayers, and our hope. This pilgrimage builds on the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages of 2024 and Oakland’s Right of Return Pilgrimage in 2025. In year three, we renew our call for an immediate arms embargo — locally and nationally. May 9, 2026 8AM - 7PM Oakland, CA 12 miles (join for any leg of the journey or all 12 miles--schedule-route and registration at im4humanintegrity.org

PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST What an honor to design and screen print this poster at events in support of the new book and campaign: 'Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It.' Thank you Annie Leonard and Andre Caruthers for your creative intervention against the crackdown on protest. It's a book published by @patagonia , a speaking tour and popular education campaign;  @theprotestbook They write, "Nonviolent protest is one of the most powerful tools ordinary people have ever wielded. And because it works, it is under attack. We need it now more than ever." The book's intros frame the history and the threat to protest and the book tells the stories (with photos) of 42 exemplary protests--from Quaker abolitionist Benjamin Lay in 1738 to Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem to recent youth climate strikes. It adds 13 short, diverse "Voice of a Protester" reflections on protest-- from Favianna Rodriguez ("For me, artivism is using creativity to shape culture, build empathy, and transform reality.") to Indigenous Ecuador organizer Nemonte Nenquimo.

SACRAMENTO MAYDAY 2026 Sacramento workers and students joined Mayday nationwide and global mass resistance yesterday. A 300 foot "WORKERS OVER BILLIONAIRES" guerrilla street mural was painted on blockaded Capital mall and we used our bodies to form a "human banner" spelling "ICE OUT" with our bodies directly in front of the Sacramento ICE office (650 Capitol Mall), next to the CA State Capitol. Community groups/people designed and painted a mural within each letter. 2026 is the 20th anniversary of “A Day Without Immigrants” mass uprising-strike. This is the 5th year of giant Mayday street murals and music/arts festival of resistance led by NorCalResist—this year co led by Sacra Coalition, including local labor and Sacramento Immigration Committee, and The Ring of Democracy. Shoutout to mural facilitation/paint supplies team Gemma, Julie, Kyla and Lyra. Thanks Thadd for drone photography and @xicogonzalez /mechadelamet for mural painting photo.

The workers united will never be defeated!

Art is powerful✊ Thank you @japaneseamericanfams4justice and @davidsolnit #japaneseamerican #fuckice #mayday #iceoutofca

MAYDAY in SAC NO WORK * NO SCHOOL * NO SHOPPING 11-am-3pm: We will be joining @norcal_resist and labor and community groups facilitating a giant 300 foot street mural in front of ICE Office that will read: "WORKERS OVER BILLIONAIRES ICE OUT!" 4pm: We will facilitate a Giant Human Banner, spelling "ICE OUT" with our bodies. Join us! PS: Looking for drone photo/video person to document at 3:30-4:30pm message me. Photos of past year mayday Street Murals

MAYDAY READY! Climate Justice Contingent vs FOSSIL FUELED FASCISM: MAKE POLLUTERS PAY! Art making today-including giant CA poppies-CA VS FASCISM!

CLIMATE JUSTICE ART-MAKING AT BERKELEY HIGH Julie Searle and I facilitated an art-making workshop for Berkeley High School 9th grade students on Friday as part of their annual Climate Conference-a day a climate connected education and hands on workshops. Students hand painted screenprinted fabric patches designed for climate justice and immigrant rights campaigns. Thanks to artists: @dioishh @mona.caron @jasonjustice_justicedesign @jlachica.art @mugisalaverrytakei89 and appreciation for student organizing of @sunriseberkeleyhigh Photos by Julies Searle and David Solnit Screen prints on unbleached muslin patches. Painted w color washes (watered down acrylic paint).

#interfaith4palestine #mennoniteactionbayarea #interfaithmovement4humanintegrity #oaklandarmsembargo