Santiago – Hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters marched through downtown Santiago, calling on Palestinians to enjoy their rights and paying tribute to those killed in Gaza during the 11-day war between Hamas and Israel.

Sunday’s rally was the third demonstration held by the Palestinian youth movement last week.

The organization also rallied to prepare to submit a statement of action to San Diego County officials on Wednesday.

“We call on officials to issue a statement condemning the situation in Israel and the genocide of the Palestinian people, raising the rights of Palestine, ending American training by sending American police to the Israeli army, and coming here to cruelly treat our brown and black brothers and sisters, and Support Congress and federal bills that support the rights of the Palestinian people,” said Jeanine Erikat from the San Diego branch of the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Erikat hoped that San Diegans would support Palestine and called on local leaders to listen to their opinions.

Ericart said: “Listen to the resistance of the local and Palestinian people who have been engaged in this work for many years and speak up.”

Ahlam Muhtaseb from Murrieta marched with her family and said she hoped that the United States would stop assisting the Israeli army. Muhtaseb said: “Stop providing Israel with about $3.8 billion in military aid each year and use it for our communities. We need them here. We need to provide social programs for the suffering communities.”

Rabi Yair Yelin from Chabad, San Marcos, said that he understands this is a difficult conflict, but wants to let people know that the secret to getting rid of darkness is light.

Yelin said: “We are surrounded by so much evil and so much suffering. We must do our best to see how we can do better for ourselves, our family, our neighborhood and the surrounding environment.”

The Palestinian Youth Movement will deliver the letter in person at the Federal Building in downtown San Diego at 4 pm on Wednesday, May 26.