Rana Zaman struggles for universal human rights and peace globally. Why is she being attacked?

In the wake of October 7, two political modalities have emerged: one is an imperialist one that seeks to forcefully normalize the retaliatory genocidal violence Israel has inflicted on Palestine, the other is an anticolonial one that refuses the racial domination of people rendered disposable by the imperial machine. A primary effect of the so-called "Palestine exception" -- where one can protest, petition and pressure government to stand up to monstrous violations of human rights, so long as they do not try to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity -- is that people like Rana, who speak the truth about what is happening, are blamed, blacklisted and denigrated. In this conversation, Zaman and I discuss the ostracism and silencing she has repeatedly experienced, with the most recent attacks coming as a result of the YMCA in Halifax awarding her a Peace Medal, only to rescind it days later in the face of a targeted pro-Israel smear campaign. This is not the first time that Rana has faced backlash for resisting the destruction of Palestinian life. It must, however, be the last. The cowardice and complicity of YMCA Canada is an embarrassment for an organization that claims to be intent on "igniting the potential in people and strengthening our evolving communities." Shrinking away from the risks of confronting injustice has earned YMCA a place on the list of organizations that supporters of Palestinian liberation are encouraged to boycott. Stand in support of Rana Zaman, a crusader for human rights in spite of censorship, state-sponsored violence and Zionist propaganda. Resist the manufacturing of amnesia. Fight for a free Palestine.