"Colonization is a process of establishing control over areas or peoples for foreign people to advance their trade, cultivation, exploitation and possibly settlement. Colonization functions through establishing a differentiation between the area and people of the colonized and colonizers..."
The problem is that the people who are being colonized don't consent to it. Their land is not shared, it is stolen. Their rights, their dignity, and their lives often follow.
This has happened many times before in history, including American history, where European settlers took land by force and worked to exterminate the people who already lived there. Right now, it is happening to the Palestinian people. The methods are brutal, both psychologically and physically, and when considered as a whole, amount to genocide. And it is aided by tax dollars from the world's most vocal proponent of life, liberty, and the of pursuit happiness: The United States.
On September 14th, we will screen Where Olive Trees Weep, a 2024 documentary showing the genocide and its effects on Palestinians, as well as revealing the complex history that has led to it. Afterwards, we will host a group discussion, and provide a handout of recommended resources to learn more about this conflict and what can be done.
This film is hopeful and beautiful, but it is not happy. We warn viewers that at times the film describes of personal traumatic experiences, shows recordings of violence, and describes torture. We alert parents and guardians that children they bring will need guidance to understand and process what they see.
We hope you will join us for a night of education and empathy.