On December 2, 2018, Palestinian-American political activist Linda Sarsour spoke at the 2018 Salam Annual Banquet, held at the Salam Community Center in Sacramento, CA. She criticized President Trump for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, saying: "I declare to all of you here today in Sacramento that Jerusalem is and always will be the capital of Palestine." Calling the Trump administration fascist, she encouraged Muslims to become involved in politics even if their mosques usually avoid politics, because, she said, simply being Muslim is a political act. The Prophet Muhammad, she asserted, was a human rights activist, adding that there is no need for workers' rights movements, environmental justice movements, or Black Lives Matter movements, or anti-racism or feminism, because Islam taught these values long before they were hashtags or movements. She added: "I don't need people in the West, people in Europe, or people in the United States... to teach me what feminism is." The video of Sarsour's speech was uploaded to the Salam Center's YouTube channel on December 13, 2018. Also speaking at the event was Imam Kashif Ahmed.
Following are excerpts from her statements at the Salam Annual Banquet:
"I Will Declare To All Of You Here In Sacramento That Jerusalem Is And Always Will Be The Capital Of Palestine"
Linda Sarsour: "This administration also went against the international community and thought it was a good idea to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. This President stood up and declared, and thought it was just about words, [and] that he has so much power that he can stand up and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Since he thinks it's as easy as words, I will declare to all of you here in Sacramento that Jerusalem is and always will be the capital of Palestine.
Poster Comment:
No such thing as Palestinians or Palestine.