HARVEY — On Friday, August 16, the Palestinian Youth Movement of New Orleans and Masjid Omar celebrated the unveiling of New Orleans’ first mural celebrating Palestinian heritage and culture. The mural, titled, “Our Roots, Our Right,” was painted by Palestinian artist, Chris Gazaleh of San Francisco. It is located on the Sahara Cafe and Middle Eastern grocery store, Crescent Market, in Gretna.
DATE: Friday, August 16, 2024, 6:00pm – 10:00pm
LOCATION: Crescent Plaza, 401 Realty Drive, Gretna, LA 70056
EVENT: Unveiling of Mural Painted by Chris Gazaleh (San Francisco) and Market
The mural, the first of several, upcoming art initiatives, was created for the 20,000 members of the Palestinian diaspora in the greater New Orleans area and dedicated to all of the victims of the 76-year genocide of Palestinians, including Tawfic Abdeljabbar, a 17-year-old New Orleans native. Tawfic was shot and killed while driving outside of Ramallah with his friends. He is one of nearly 150 children killed in the Palestinian West Bank since last October. Tawfic’s father and brother, recently back from Palestine, visited the mural on August 17, what would have been Tawfic’s 18th birthday. In addition to a young boy flying a kite, meant to represent Tawfic, the mural features a girl dancing the traditional dabke, an olive tree, a couple holding a basket of freshly-picked oranges (an homage to Gazaleh’s family), and more.
Gazaleh says, “This mural is for our community, for them to feel proud and know that we are being seen. I want it to be an inspiration for us to keep pushing and keep fighting for justice. The title is “Our Roots, Our Right” because we don’t belong anywhere else than Palestine.”
In the spirit of celebrating Palestinian culture and community, Friday night’s unveiling included a community market with food, refreshments, merchandise, music and dancing, face painting, henna, and children’s bouncy castles.
Of the new art initiatives, Adan Murad of the Palestinian Youth Movement of New Orleans says, “Palestinians in New Orleans have spent too long hiding who we are for our safety, but we’re here, and never again will we let anyone else tell our story. We’re all in New Orleans because of Israel’s occupation of our homeland…its theft of our homes, our culture, our children. But we will return, and we’re coming for everything that was taken from us.”
About Chris Gazaleh: Gazaleh is a multi-media artist whose mission is to “promote cultural, political, and social awareness about the history, people and struggle for freedom in Palestine” through his art. His work has graced walls in San Francisco, Oakland, Palestine, and now New Orleans. Outside of his painting and other artwork, Gazaleh works with youth in the community to combat discrimination and harmful stereotypes of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims worldwide.
About The Palestinian Youth Movement: The Palestinian Youth Movement is a transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians in Palestine and in exile worldwide as a result of the ongoing Zionist colonization and occupation of our homeland. Our belonging to Palestine and our aspirations for justice and liberation motivate us to assume an active role as a young generation in our national struggle for the liberation of our homeland and people. Irrespective of our different political, cultural and social backgrounds, we strive to revive a tradition of pluralistic commitment toward our cause to ensure a better future, characterized by freedom and justice on a social and political level, for ourselves and subsequent generations. The NOLA chapter, founded and led by local Palestinian youth, was just established this year, but its impact has already been felt across the greater New Orleans area.
About Masjid Omar: Masjid Omar is the largest mosque in the Greater New Orleans area. Located in Harvey, the Masjid has been active in the movement for Palestinian liberation, hosting events in their Al Quds Hall, leading protests, rallies, and marches, and maintaining a consistent presence at many community events.
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