Voices from the Holy Land's Online Film Salon – Rooted in Sumud: Palestinian Nonviolent Resistance

Join the next installment of the Voices from the Holy Land's Online Film Salon—a virtual film screening and live Q&A discussion—spotlighting the legacy and power of unarmed Palestinian civil resistance.

Narratives about the Palestinian struggle for liberation often focus on armed resistance. What this overlooks, however, is Palestinians’ rich legacy of nonviolent civil resistance–including mass demonstrations, strikes and boycotts, as well as art, literature, journalism and poetry. And surviving while under occupation, bombardment and siege requires daily acts of unarmed resistance.  Panelists will discuss the long history and efficacy of Palestinian unarmed civil resistance. They will also examine the limitations of the oft-used dichotomy of “violence versus nonviolence,” while interrogating questions such as: who determines the terms of what is meant by nonviolence, and whose violence is too often considered legitimate?  This discussion will broaden notions of struggle for freedom and peace, while uplifting the sumud of the Palestinian people. 
 
Watch the curated videos for free at your convenience. | Join the Q&A discussion with:

Sami Awad:  Co-Director of Nonviolence International, founder of the Holy Land Trust
Bill “Damini” Keene:  Civil rights activist, author, and college administrator (ret.)
Fadi Abushammala:  Affiliate Visiting Scholar at Georgetown U.; Executive Dir., General Union of Cultural Centers in Palestine; Outreach Associate for Gaza, Just Vision
Jen Marlowe (Moderator):  Author; filmmaker; founder, Donkeysaddle Projects; and Consulting Producer, Just Vision

How this will work:

1 - Register for the Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon (see below).

2 – Once you register, you will get a confirmation email from Zoom with a link to the meeting and a link with to watch the film.  (Save this confirmation letter as the meeting link is unique to your email and you must have this to participate

3 - Watch the film at your convenience before the event.  Then join us with your thoughts and questions for our speakers at the Q&A Discussion on Sunday July 20, 2025 at 3 pm ET/ 12 noon PT. 
 
This Salon is Co-Sponsored by Nonviolence International and Faith Strategies.

Supporter Organizations: Palestine Justice Network (PCUSA), Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, Quaker Palestine Israel Network, Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, Disciples of Christ Palestine-Israel Network, Virginia Coalition for Human Rights, Mennonite Palestine Israel Network, Friends of Sabeel North America, Episcopal Peace Fellowship – Palestine Israel Network, Northern New Jersey Jewish Voice for Peace, United Church of Christ – Palestine Israel Network, U.S. Lutheran Palestine Israel Caucus, Churches for Middle East Peace, Pax Christi USA