Transcript of Speech by Kojo Acheampong at Al Quds Day Rally (04-05-2024)

April 6, 2024

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A speech by Kojo Acheampong at an April 5, 2024 rally in protest of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Some statements may be lacking context, these were not editorial choices but the result of the limited coverage of the event. Any incoherence should be attributed to the Record, not the speaker.

Kojo Acheampong: free free palestine

Audience: free free Palestine

Kojo Acheampong: free free free Palestine

Audience: free free free Palestine

Kojo Acheampong: Long Live Palestine

Audience: Long Live Palestine

Kojo Acheampong: Long Live Gaza

Audience: Long Live Gaza

Kojo Acheampong: I said Long Live Palestine

Audience: Long Live Palestine

Kojo Acheampong: Long Live Gaza

Audience: Long Live Gaza

Kojo Acheampong: 1 2 3 4

Audience: 1 2 3 4

Kojo Acheampong: occupation no more

Audience: occupation no more

Kojo Acheampong: 5 6 7 8

Audience: 5 6 7 8

Kojo Acheampong: Israel is a racist state

Audience: Israel is a racist state

Kojo Acheampong: I said Israel is a racist State

Audience: Israel is a racist state

Kojo Acheampong: Divestment

Audience:[Applause]

Kojo Acheampong: Divestment, that is our task in the belly of the belly

Audience member: hell yeah

Kojo Acheampong: that’s our historical duty what we see an apartheid regime

Audience member: that’s right

Kojo Acheampong: an apartheid regime cause harm to our brothers and sisters in Palestine

Audience member: speak on it got it

Kojo Acheampong: we understand that our duty was the same in South Africa

Audience member: that’s right

Kojo Acheampong: they won divestment, they won it. Why? Because of the students. It was because of the student power all across universities and right here.

Kojo Acheampong: And in this moment like Prince(Aviunce Williams) said you have to understand that the reason why they’re trying to repress us is because they’re noth-, they’re scared.

Kojo Acheampong: They’re scared, of our power.

Audience member: that’s right!

Kojo Acheampong: of our power!

Kojo Acheampong: people all across movements, all across history are who get real change, it’s not given. Divestment is never given we work for it, we organize and organize and fight and fight and fight until we get it.

Audience: [Applause]

Kojo Acheampong: And so when we see our siblings at HLS pass a resolution for divestment

Audience: [Applause]

Kojo Acheampong: it means it’s only a matter of time!

Kojo Acheampong: When we see our siblings at HDS [Applause] (may be referring to resolution passed for divestment earlier that day) divestment is only a matter of time

Audience member: that’s right

Kojo Acheampong: when we see our siblings in MIT pass a referendum [applause] calling for a ceasefire, calling for divestment, calling to stop the attacks on pro-Palestinian students it’s only a matter of time

Kojo Acheampong: all across the nation, all across Boston, we see what mobilization does

Kojo Acheampong: on Saturday, on Saturday we shut down a bridge.

Audience member: yes we did!

Kojo Acheampong: we shut down a whole Bridge.

Kojo Acheampong: we understand that all throughout this time it’s been the people, it’s been the people, who have been making change through organization

Kojo Acheampong: that’s the only way to make change.

Kojo Acheampong: so right here our duty remains the same…

Kojo Acheampong: Divest, divest, and divest

Audience member: Divest! [applause]

Kojo Acheampong: our comrades in the struggle, HGSU, BDS make some noise!!

Kojo Acheampong: wrote a letter for divestment, cause we see that in 2020 the Crimson reported that Harvard had just under $200 million in is Israeli apartheid

Audience: Shame!!

Kojo Acheampong: $200 million, can you imagine that? Can you fathom that? $200 million dollars!!

Kojo Acheampong: this impacts us at all sectors we understand the union struggle, they’re constantly trying to cut wages.

Kojo Acheampong: we see the fact that they don’t even want to give us hot breakfast, but then they have almost $200 million to give to an apartheid regime

Audience: Shame!!!

Kojo Acheampong: $200 million while Harvard gentrifies people right here

Audience: Shame!!!

Kojo Acheampong: $200 million will Harvard is constantly kicking off our houseless folks, our, our community

Audience: Shame!!!

Kojo Acheampong: $200 million to go murder Palestinians that’s what it’s used for.

Kojo Acheampong: will we stand for that?

Audience: No!!!

Kojo Acheampong: I said will we stand for that?

Audience: No!!!

Kojo Acheampong: so our duty remains the same. Divest, divest, divest! That’s it!!

Kojo Acheampong: everybody I know you got a flyer I saw [unknown] going make making the rounds

Kojo Acheampong: make sure you scan that flyer

Kojo Acheampong: make sure you sign on to the letter. We have to show, we have to show the institution that the people will not put up for occupation.

Kojo Acheampong: I said the people will not put up for occupation

Kojo Acheampong: our goal is the same. our goal is the same.

Kojo Acheampong: ain’t no power like the power of the people cuz the power of people don’t stop! Say what?