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Poet Rupi Kaur stated she is declining an invite to the White Home’s Diwali celebration over the Biden administration’s help for Israel’s persevering with bombardment of Gaza and what she known as its justification of “genocide in opposition to Palestinians.”
“I am stunned this administration finds it acceptable to have fun Diwali, when their help of the present atrocities in opposition to Palestinians symbolize the precise reverse of what this vacation means to many people,” Kaur wrote Monday on Instagram.
The vacation celebration, which is being hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, is a celebration of “righteousness over falsehood and information over ignorance” by folks of the Hindu and Jain faiths and culturally all through India and around the globe, Kaur stated.
“I’ve at all times used at the present time to mirror on what it means to battle for freedom in opposition to oppression,” Kaur stated, referencing Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh vacation commemorating the day the sixth Sikh Guru “helped free 52 political prisoners from unjust imprisonment,” that overlaps with Diwali.
“I refuse any invitation from an establishment that helps the collective punishment of a trapped civilian inhabitants — 50% of whom are kids,” the “Milk and Honey” creator continued.
The present struggle between Israel and Hamas started on Oct. 7 when Hamas launched a brutal shock assault on Israel. Since then, the Israeli navy has executed an aggressive offensive on Gaza, bombarding the strip with airstrikes and sending troops and tanks into Gaza late final month.
For the reason that begin of the struggle, a minimum of 1,400 have been killed in Israel, and in response to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Well being, greater than 10,300 folks have been killed in Gaza, together with greater than 4,200 kids.
CBS Information can not independently confirm the figures offered by the well being ministry, however U.S. officers say the civilian toll is undoubtedly within the 1000’s.
“In the present day, the American authorities is just not solely funding the bombardment of Gaza, they proceed to justify this genocide in opposition to Palestinians—no matter what number of refugee camps, well being services, and locations of worship are blown to bits,” Kaur wrote.
The Biden administration hosted the White Home’s largest Diwali celebration ever final yr, however Kaur stated she can not “stay silent or agreeable simply to get a seat on the desk” with out addressing what is going on in Gaza.
“As a Sikh lady, I cannot enable my likeness for use in whitewashing this administration’s actions,” the poet stated.
“The privilege we lose from talking up is nothing in comparison with what Palestinians lose every day as a result of this administration rejects a ceasefire,” Kaur added.
Whereas President Biden has known as for a three-day “humanitarian pause” with a view to get hostages out, his administration has not requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a “humanitarian cease-fire” — which Kaur famous is being demanded by a number of international locations, the United Nations and organizations resembling Docs With out Borders.
Different South Asian public figures commented on Kaur’s put up in help of the assertion, with some saying they might additionally skip the occasion.
Actor Richa Moorjani from “By no means Have I Ever” stated she would observe Kaur’s lead in lacking the Diwali occasion: “I stand tall boycotting White Home Diwali with you.”
Content material creator @payalforstyle commented, saying she would decline her invitation regardless of wanting ahead to receiving one since final yr’s celebration.
“I can not in good religion attend. I can not help this administration,” she stated. “I can not enable the darkness of their actions to be glazed over by stunning glitzy outfits and picture opps…all to make them seem inclusive.”
South Asian diaspora-focused publication Brown Woman Journal thanked Kaur for talking out and stated it too declined the White Home invitation.
Israel & Hamas At Battle
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