Photograph by Michael Leonardi

On Monday the 22nd of September, I witnessed and participated in what will be a seismic historical event. This watershed moment will be a significant turning point. I hope and believe things will never be the same.

My wife Jennifer was on an extensive business trip to China, Indonesia, and Tunisia. There are no direct flights from Indonesia to Tunisia, so her connection was in Rome on Friday. Since her next meetings were not until Monday, I met her in Rome and we spent a relaxing two days walking and enjoying the incredible sites and cuisine that Rome has to offer.

After Jennifer left for Tunisia, I stayed in Rome and met up with my very good friend Michael Leonardi. He’s an American expat now living on the beautiful island of Procida just off the coast of Naples. Michael is a teacher and a tireless activist, writer, and social justice warrior. He is vice president of a US based non-profit called TreeWater Initiative whose slogan is “We are standing for Gaza and all of Palestine”. Michael also contributes and works with my non-profit PeaceNick. His main focus the last few years is fighting against the horrific genocide and occupation perpetrated by Israel and backed by America.

On Friday, the largest labor union in Italy, CGIL, carried out a 4 hour strike in support of Palestine. At the same time a grassroots, non-institutional union “from below” had called for a general strike to take place the following Monday to be held at Termini, the main train station in Rome’s center. The expected attendance was around 8,000. But what transpired on Monday, September 22 was nothing short of momentous and paradigm shifting.

That morning in Rome, and everywhere across Italy, started off as a normal day. Businesses opened, children attended school, and people started their daily life. Where Michael stays with his companion, Alessandra, on the outskirts of central Rome, it was no different. Her middle school aged son was off to school across the street, while we all planned our day to attend the rally approximately 3 kilometers away. But what happened next was truly extraordinary and awe inspiring. Cheers were heard outside as the children exited school early to walk home. The principal was then heard, with a megaphone, that classes were cancelled due to so many teachers going on strike to support Palestine. Simultaneously, high schools students went on strike along with their teachers pouring out of the school to begin a march down the street chanting “Free Palestine”. Many parents around the neighborhood joined in and worked their way down to a main boulevard merging with hundreds of people. Hundreds turned into thousands as school after school of young adults, teachers, and parents joined in. “All of us are anti-Zionist! All of us are anti-fascist! All of us are Palestinian!”

The police in Rome started shutting down every major boulevard from all corners of Rome to allow people to march to the train station. When we arrived, the scene was breathtaking. Over 300,000 people with thousands of Palestinian flags and homemade signs converged on Rome’s center! After an hour of unity and solidarity supporting the people of Palestine under the genocidal thumb of the fascist Israeli government run by internationally indicted war criminal Netanyahu, the rally leaders negotiated with the police to continue marching. They really had no choice but to agree, so they cleared more streets to the Piazza San Giovanni.

The same thing happened in every small and major city in Italy, effectively shutting down the whole country. Teachers, students, parents, transportation workers and faith leaders all joined in.

Later that evening back in Alessandra ‘s apartment, we rested, shared a wonderful meal, and then turned on the news. It was a buzz with what had transpired throughout the country. The media in Italy has seen a slow shift over the last few months from right wing propaganda, edging closer to the truth as the people of Italy are not buying the narrative of genocide denial any more. There was a few skirmishes with the police in Milan, but the vast majority of protests and marches were non-violent and peaceful. Of course, Prime Minister Meloni who is a Trump suppoter, spoke to the media stating the country was shut down by radical leftist thugs intent on provoking nothing but violence. Again, the people were just not buying it, as they witnessed what really happened.

Another remarkable series of events was happening simultaneously. Earlier in September, a flotilla of 40+ boats from various countries including Spain, Tunisia, Greece, and Italy set off intending to deliver aid to Gaza. On it’s way, in international waters on Tuesday, the day after the huge uprising in Italy, Israel committed yet another breach of international law and attacked the flotilla with drones. It was only a warning though, as nobody was injured and one boat was damaged from the bombs dropped above. In response many in the Italian Parliament, I’m sure, emboldened by the previous day’s uprising, staged a sit in to force the Meloni government to act. It worked as the Italian navy deployed a ship to escort the flotilla which contained many Italian citizens.

Since then the Spanish government has also sent a naval ship to protect the flotilla. Currently the flotilla is in international waters near Greece. How this turns out is anybody’s guess. But more and more support for Gaza is building. Leading the charge, the Spanish government has called for a complete boycott of Israeli culture, economics, and especially the military.

As an American, I’m disappointed and embarrassed that the United States government still supports Israel. Its non-stop economic and military support is heartbreaking and its silence on this matter screams complicity. Complicity of the genocide and oppression of the Palestinian people. But we the people can change that.

I’m so proud of the people in Italy for leading by example, by uprising and calling for the end of our lifetime’s worst crime against humanity. Now it’s your turn. Per favore America. Make me proud.

Gregory Panzica is a Musician and social justice activist from Detroit, Michigan. He can be reached at greg.panzica@peacenick.org

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