Rock Against Apartheid

My friends helped to produce Slingshot Hip Hop, a documentary about the emerging Palestinian hip hop scene. They premiered their film to sold out crowds at the Sundance Film Festival recently. Tonight, in NYC, they’ve organized a fundraiser at the Knitting Factory, featuring clips from the movie and performances from DJ Kayper, GC & The Soul Mafia, Erika Rose with JAX, Sarah White, and S.O.U.L Purpose. See more at Zapagringo’s blog or buy tickets at the Knitting Factory’s website.

Concurrently, there’s a panel at St. Mary’s Church in Harlem on the role of the labor movement in boycotting apartheid. Labor organizers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Palestine Solidarity Committee of South Africa, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in the U.S. will talk about labor initiatives to end the apartheid in Israel. Read more here.

This is all part of Israeli Apartheid Week, the fourth annual series held internationally to challenge Israeli apartheid and bolster support for the boycotts, divestments, and sanctions campaign against Israel. This week takes place on the 60th Anniversary of Al Nakba; 60 years of ethnic cleansing and dispossession for Palestinians.

My heart is bursting with pride for RJ and Ora. Please help to support their film.