SJP DePaul co-hosts 6th annual Café Resistance

On Monday, March 4, 2013 the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at DePaul University kicked off Israeli Apartheid week with their 6th annual Café Resistance event. SJP is a diverse non-profit organization made up of teachers, students, and community members dedicated to democratic principles to “promote justice, human rights, liberation, and self determination for the Palestinian people” (Students for Justice in Palestine). This year the event was co-hosted with MEChA (Movimiento Estidiantil Chican@ de Aztlan) de DePaul a chapter of “the largest organization of Raza Youth in the United States” (Nationalmecha.org). Café Resistance is a chance for all artists to showcase their work be it, poetry, spoken word, music, or dance in the struggle against injustice and oppression all over the world. The night was packed with delicious food, catered by Zachi, and lots of entertainment. Performers of the night included poetry and spoken word by Priscilla Agbeo, Janan Audayeh, and Mariah Scott, traditional Palestinian debke by the AMP youth group, and a surprise break dance performance. The crowd of over one hundred and fifty people was invited to participate in the dancing and everyone from all cultures and backgrounds united. The featured entertainment for the night was Rebel Diaz. Originating in Chicago, Rebel Diaz has been in the Bronx, New York for the past ten years doing community work, and creating hip hop and rap music dedicated to liberty, freedom, and informing people on the struggles of immigrants. Rebel Diaz stand with the Students for Justice in Palestine, and their cause to spread awareness about the Israeli occupation. Karina Nava, External Coach for MeChA, says that MeChA’s mission aligns similarly with SJP’s and that the struggle to achieve civil liberties for all people is the most important issue.