Antasia Adamjee is an organizer with Houston for Palestinian Liberation.
This story is a part of our “Causes to Love Houston” bundle, revealed within the Spring 2025 difficulty.
One of many many issues we admire about Houstonians is the hearth of their stomach. Individuals are engaged of their metropolis, and a few have even taken to letting all of it out throughout public remark at metropolis council conferences. Antasia Adamjee, an organizer with Houston for Palestinian Liberation, has made her voice a staple of pro-Palestine advocacy at metropolis corridor. We spoke together with her about her experiences.
How did you become involved with Houston for Palestinian Liberation (HPL)?
A good friend of mine in California noticed that somebody had gone to their metropolis council and spoke on the plight of Palestinians. She shared the video with a few pals right here in Houston, and one went to metropolis council—there have been three individuals there that day. They organically obtained onto social media and requested to have individuals be part of them. The following week, I went, and it’s an intimidating atmosphere. To start with, it was consciousness, as a result of how might anybody probably log out on international cash getting used to fund any sort of horrific actions taking place out of the country? We in a short time realized that there was a blind eye being turned to it. [HPL] was only a group of people that had a name for a similar factor, which was [to] cease funding genocide.
What was your expertise talking at metropolis council for the primary time?
My foremost focus was highlighting what was happening. I primarily spoke concerning the destruction that was taking place. There was no meals, no water, no shelter, persons are being displaced. Right here I’m, only a regular citizen going as much as discuss what I believe is essential for different individuals to listen to. A standard one that doesn’t know sufficient concerning the authorized jargon or metropolis legal guidelines. If I can go up there and converse on behalf of people that don’t have a voice abroad, or for others who’re afraid to converse up, then let me not give attention to my fears.
What are your particular calls for from metropolis council?
First, we wished a name for a ceasefire, and we weren’t getting that in any respect. Our residents in Houston have household in Palestine which might be being affected. We ultimately obtained 5 metropolis councilmembers to affix our aspect. Then it went over to divestment, and the divestment didn’t work.
How do you’re feeling concerning the progress HPL has made?
Progress goes to take a very long time. I really feel like there was a group that’s been constructed. Once I was 13 and going to Palestinian protests, I seemed round and it was normally individuals who seemed like me. However then after I went to the town council protest in late October or November, that was one of many first instances I seemed round and it was so numerous. I noticed individuals who seemed like me, individuals who have been white, African American, Asian—each sort of race current. Everybody’s eyes are opening up and seeing what’s happening. That’s been stunning to see. With the work that’s been performed, generally it feels stagnant. Generally it feels prefer it’s pulling enamel. It takes so a few years and a lot time to truly see any sort of change, however we’re attempting to try this brick by brick.
Is there something else you need individuals to know?
It looks like a needle in a haystack while you’re on the market by yourself, attempting to make change occur. It may really feel so small and insignificant. And there are such a lot of instances that can really feel stagnant, however you look again at big historic actions within the US that took years and years. There’s alternative ways to be a part of the motion, whether or not that’s speaking about it, posting about it, displaying
up, and even simply saying a prayer. I would like individuals to really feel emboldened to try this versus, “I’m only one individual I can’t make a change.” You may. We simply must do it collectively.
