Land Day started with the deaths of 6 Palestinians and the wounding and jailing of hundreds more at the hands of Israeli police on March 30, 1976. Following the announced plans of the Israeli government to expropriate 60,000 dunams of Arab-owned land in the Galilee, protests erupted. This event signified the first act of mass resistance from a people rising against systematic disenfranchisement since Israel’s inception in 1948. Though the acts of land theft, home destruction, reckless killing, jailing without trial, home demolitions, and ethnic cleansing have occurred unabated since and before this day in 1976, Land Day has been chosen to commemorate Palestinian resistance.

Our evening will begin with a panel of Palestinians discussing the significance of this day in their own lives, and they will take questions from the audience.

CNY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel, which is hosting this free event, will serve simple fare from the region, and encourage participants to join with them in the Palestinian non-violent call for resolution through boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israeli products.