Over a month ago, we sent our first call-to-ceasefire newsletter: "may we soften our hearts towards our fellow humans and stiffen our spines against structures of violence and oppression".
I signed it with "I believe in us".
The mix of mostly gratitude, and some fragility and threats filled my inbox.
Then we sent another firmer call-to-ceasefire newsletter.
Even more violent backlash came by way from all directions.
Today, I am ENRAGED by us - this so-called "mental health field".
Since y'all are so obsessed about who I condemn, I made a list just so we're clear.
Content warning: genoc*de, mass murder, racialized violence
We condemn...
- the mental health field's complicity to gen*cide
- staying silent as children that don't look like yours are mass murdered
- getting cultural competence CEUs but “can't tell” when gen*cide is occurring
- reading "white fragility" but "just cannot" witness ongoing gen*cide
- seeking justification when Black, Indigenous, Brown people are murdered by our own government
- shaming and bullying Jewish people calling for Ceasefire
- attacking Black femme scholars whose quotes you leveraged for "likes"
- demanding Black, Indigenous and People of Color to be your mouthpiece
- professors, supervisors, practice owners operating business-as-usual
- blaming Black, Indigenous and People of Color for “not seeking therapy” - look around
See post on Instagram to reshare.
Resources
See our Ceasefire NOW story highlights for resources, education & calls-to-action.
Learn more:
- FAQ Gaza (Slow Factory)
- The Palestine Academy
- All Out for Palestine – Digital Action Toolkit
- For some Jewish peace activists, demands for a cease-fire come at a personal cost (NPR)
- Black Feminists Are Standing Up For Palestinians — No Matter The Cost
- How To Keep Going - The struggle for liberation is more than struggle (Ijeoma Oluo)
- On Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism and Dangerous Conflations (A Jewish Voice for Peace and PARCEO Explainer) *note: Who are Semite Peoples and how has language evolved over time? (Britannica)
- PALESTINE SOLIDARITY FOR THE LONG TERM FOR FRIENDS, ALLIES, AND COMRADES (Rooted Solidarities)
Healing and Mental Health Resources
- Healing-Centered Resources for Those Impacted by Violence in Palestine/Israel
- Rest for Resistance: healing events by/for queer and trans people of color
- Mental Health Resources for Palestinians + SWANA folks
- Free Support Group for Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, & Allies from Austin Counseling + Nutrition
- Peer Support Space: Processing Palestine for SWANA/Arab/Muslim Diaspora Therapists & Human Service Professionals from Maryam Elbalghiti-Williams
- Speaking Our Vision: A Support Group for SWANA Women Diaspora in PA, NJ, DE, and FL from Yusra Aziz
- Palestinian Mental Health & Wellness (resource hub)
- SWANA Therapist Collective
Amplifying Jewish Inclusive Therapists Members’ Voices
- As a Jew, I understand that the root of violence in Gaza is oppression by Rebecca Alvarez
- Zionism as Traumatic Reenactment and a Plea for Real Healing by Rachel Harlich
- Struggle and Healing: A Look at Palestinian Liberation from A Jewish Ally by Carmen Simon
- Presence and Grief: What is "Centering" in Times of Collective, Cultural and Ancestral Traumas? by Carmen Simon
Image description: slide with brown border. Black text reads:
We condemn (highlighted in yellow)
the mental health field's complicity to gen*cide