The Palestine Exception

The anarchic queue is typical of queues around Portland. We’re used to it. 

I was about to join the queue myself, waiting for the debut of a documentary called The Palestine Exception. It’s about the violent crackdown on protesters calling for a free Palestine. If you’re interested, here’s a useful description and a trailer. Judith Butler is particularly clear in explaining the difference between anti-Zionism and antiSemitism. 

The documentary covers student protests in New York, Los Angeles, and Portland. Some of the footage from Portland was filmed on the same day I blipped it. Students staged a sit-in at the library, renaming it the Refaat Alareer Library. Ultimately the Portland Police crushed the uprising and arrested a number of students. Many of the students were penalized and are still suffering from the university’s intolerance of their protest. 

I deleted my Facebook and Instagram accounts today, as it has become clear to me that under our current government, photographs from social media are being used for surveillance. I think the government will always have access to photos I’ve posted, even if I delete my accounts, but deleting my accounts prevents groups like the Proud Boys from using my photographs to identify and harass protesters. So far I think Blipfoto is under the radar of hate groups in this country. I hope that continues to be so.