How You Made Let's Address This #1 — And What We Must Do With This Platform
The power of principles over profit, purpose over prejudice, and Palestine over politics
I firmly believe when you stand by your principles, people of principle stand by you. Earlier this week I reported more than 300 paid subscribers to this human rights newsletter cancelled their subscriptions—many citing my human rights advocacy for Gaza.
Here’s what has happened since.
I stood by my principles and announced that I’m doubling down on condemning Israel’s genocide on Palestinians and asked for more people to raise their voices to stop this holocaust. I held this hour long live with journalist Wajahat Ali on the need for all Americans to speak up to condemn Israel’s genocide on Palestine.
You all took action and responded in overwhelming numbers, more than I could have imagined or hoped, and subscribed to Let’s Address This.
And now, just a few days later I woke up to this news.
Today, for the first time ever, Let’s Address This is #1 Substack U.S. Politics.
This the power of principles over politics, of purpose over profit, and of Palestine over prejudice. My immense gratitude to all of you for subscribing and for trusting me. I do not take your investment lightly, and see it as a reflection of my ardent belief that human beings are inherently good.
What We Do With This Platform
A large platform serves no purpose if we do not use it for good. So, here is my ask of each and every single person reading this: Let us continue to relentlessly raise our voice for Gaza. Children are starving. Children are dying. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to raise our voices even louder. This is the time to build our coalition for justice.
Accordingly, many have asked how they can support those who are suffering?
Here are three vetted organizations I am supporting for Palestine relief.
Humanity First: https://humanityfirstusa.org/portfolio/palestine/
Anera: https://www.anera.org/
PCRF: https://www.pcrf.net/
I know personally doctors and volunteers for each of these orgs, and can vouch for their direct support of Palestinians. In the coming weeks I am interviewing leaders from some of these orgs. Stay tuned for that soon, and donate today if you can.
Closing Thoughts
And finally, I must share this with each of you. I recently received a note from someone sending me an apology. Evidently, a year ago they told me to “f*ck off,” offended that I called what was happening in Palestine a genocide. They stated that they conflated my criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism, and now realized their mistake. I was grateful for their note. Then, this person asked, “How can I get involved? I’m afraid if I speak up, people will be upset it took me so long?”
Here’s the truth—I am indeed seeing many voices who were silent the last 22 months of genocide, now starting speak up. And, I realize many are still timid or afraid to speak up due to internal backlash from their social circles, and external backlash from social media. To such individuals I make these three points:
Welcome to the right side of history, the side of justice and humanity. As Dr. King reminds us, it is always the right time to do what is right.
Some (many?) people will be upset with you for being silent and for waiting this long. That does not mean you should stop speaking up. They have a right to their emotions and anger, we have an obligation to continue to speak up for justice. We need all hands on deck to end this genocide, and we invite your voice.
How you speak up matters: Elevate Palestinian voices and those who have been doing the work. Donate to the orgs I have linked above, to verified family fundraisers in Gaza, and to journalists on the ground in Gaza doing the work.
Above all, do not relent in upholding justice. Never again cannot merely be a slogan, it must include action. Take action, donate if you can, and at a minimum, continue to speak up for justice and humanity to end this genocide. Thank you for being on the right side of history. Let’s elevate our work—together.
that was very gracious and humbling of that individual to apologize to you... if they're reading this, please know it's never too late to get on the right side of history... welcome to the good fight 🍸
Personally, I warmly welcome all late-comers to the movement in recognizing this genocide. We need all the voices we can get. I too used to be snowed by the false trope of anti-semitism any time I called out Istrael in years past. But you and others helped me see the light two years ago. I now make it very clear, I'm not anti-semitic, I'm anti-ZIONIST. There is a difference. And it's very very key. (They are NOT the same thing.)
I'm an NOT anti-semitic. It is NOT anti-semitic to call out Israel and Israelis for perpetrating this truly horrendous GENOCIDE of the Palestinian people and state WHO WERE THERE FIRST. Isreal is literally a modern colony, formed during WWII which by definitions means it has stolen land from Indigenous Palestinians! IT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE. Further, Palestinians have co-existed with all religions with no problems. Jewish, Christian, Muslim. They are simply defending themselves from extermination as we type! Thank you for adding your voice, however late. We need all hands on deck!