Nearly 200 gather at RI State House for Jumuah prayer and Muslim-led rally

Leaders of Rhode Island’s Muslim community held a public prayer and demonstration to draw attention to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.

From a press release:

“More than 15 masjids and community organizations representing the Muslim community of Rhode Island joined together for Friday prayer at the Rhode Island State House, followed by a Muslim-led rally and dua for Palestine.

“The prayer was a powerful demonstration of Rhode Islanders’ opposition to United States support for Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians. Over the last five months, Israel has murdered 31,000 people and displaced more than two million people. All of Rhode Island’s congresspeople have repeatedly voted to send more weapons to Israel using United States taxpayer dollars despite a majority of voters supporting an immediate ceasefire.

“Rally speakers highlighted the pervasive intentional starvation faced by hundreds of thousands of families during the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims around the world through fasting and prayer.

“‘You cannot have a country drop bombs for the last five months, and now drop a little food for a few weeks and forget the more than 30,000 who have been killed. It’s hypocrisy,’ said Brother Saleh, referencing the role of the United States in the genocide of Gaza.

“‘We are here on these steps for a reason to lift our voices. We will join the hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the country who have voted uncommitted to show Genocide Joe Biden that a ceasefire is needed, that we demand all of the aid that is needed enters Gaza. Pray for the Palestinian people,’ said Sister Sterk. ‘I also want to uplift the resilient Palestinian women: a lot of them are in heaven, a lot of them are starving, and don’t have a piece of bread to feed their children for suhoor,’ she continued, referencing the pre-fasting meal eaten before sunrise.

“Sister Farah said, ‘We are Muslims so we stand with all oppressed peoples. As we fast, we feel thirst, we feel hungry, but every time my stomach grumbles I think of the children in Gaza picking flour and cornstarch out of the grass.’

“Brother Talha concluded the rally by making dua for Palestine, ending with: ‘Ya Allah, we ask you for safety and security for the people suffering in Gaza. We ask you to abolish these systems of genocide and racism.’

The prayer and rally were organized by: Falsteeni Diaspora United, Islamic Center of Rhode Island, Islamic School of Rhode Island, Masjid Ali, Masjid Al-Hoda, Masjid Al-Rahman (Muslim Society of Rhode Island), Masjid Al-Razaq, Masjid Al-Islam, Muslim Students Association - University of Rhode Island, Muslim Youth Rhode Island, Rhode Island College Muslim Students Association, Students for Justice in Palestine - Rhode Island College, YMS Rhode Island, Zumratul Jannat, and Brown University Muslim Students Association.