AMP-Minnesota commemorates Al Nakba with Key of Return

Because so many Palestinians, who were forced from their homes by Jewish militants in 1948 still hold the keys to their homes in Palestine, a ‘skeleton’ key has become the globally recognized symbol of their desire and their right to return.

Dr. Hatem Bazian, AMP chairman and professor of near eastern and ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, gave the keynote address. While recounting the tragedy of the Partition of Palestine and the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland, Dr. Bazian reminded the crowd that the Nakba is still occurring today. The occupation and its apartheid policies, such as the Apartheid Wall, settlements, and random arrests and detentions are evidence that Israeli occupation authorities are intent on continuing the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from Palestine.

Local activist Sameh Shabaneh addressed the youth present at the event and encouraged them to take up the torch of the Palestinian cause.