Nerdeen Kiswani, the organizer of a recent pro-Palestine protest in New York attended by thousands, has shared a post endorsing Hamas’ actions as ‘heroic’ and called for a mass mobilization to ‘honor our martyrs.’
Who is Nerdeen Kiswani?
Nerdeen Kiswani, a Brooklyn native, has gained prominence as the chair and co-founder of Within Our Lifetime (WOL), an extremist pro-Palestinian group. This organization was behind a big gathering in New York that some have called ‘pro-Hamas’ owing to its content.
Thousands of people attended the protest in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood, advocating for the ‘full liberation of all Palestine.’ During the ceremony, several attendees sang the phrase ‘from the river to the sea,’ a slogan associated with Hamas terrorists.
While the rally’s promotional materials did not expressly name Hamas, doubts have been raised over how many people were aware of or supported Within Our Lifetime’s extreme objective.
Recent findings have revealed the breadth of WOL’s alleged support for Hamas. Previously, the group had referred to Hamas as ‘freedom fighters,’ a characterization that has sparked controversy.
Also read | Who is Nurit Yitzhak, Israeli hostage released by Hamas?
Nerdeen Kiswani uploaded a post from WOL on the platform X on October 7, just hours after Hamas conducted a devastating attack on Israel. This post called for a rally on October 9, with the goal of ‘defending the heroic Palestinian resistance, honoring our martyrs, and expressing solidarity with Gaza.’
WOL’s pro-Palestine march in Brooklyn drew an estimated 50,000 people, resulting in conflicts with police and approximately two dozen arrests. The event’s contentious posture and rhetoric have sparked questions about the limits of free expression and support for extremist organizations within protests and marches.
