“Second Annual People’s Conference for Palestine Highlights Extremism and Calls for Violence”

The second annual People’s Conference for Palestine took place at the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit from August 29 to 31, 2025. This event highlighted growing extremism within the anti-Israel movement, marked by direct calls for violence and aggressive rhetoric. The conference underscored how certain concerning trends and tactics, which gained traction following the October 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas on Israel, have become normalized nearly two years later. These trends included the open glorification of terror groups like Hamas, calls to eradicate Zionism, and extreme rhetoric advocating for the abolition of Israel.

Organizers reported approximately 4,500 participants, with a speaker roster that included convicted terrorists, elected U.S. officials at various levels, university professors, student organizers, and activist group leaders. Among the speakers were U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Hatem Bazian, Mahmoud Khalil, Hasan Piker, Linda Sarsour, and Omar Suleiman. The event was co-emceed by Taher Dahleh, a Palestinian Youth Movement organizer, and Rama Kased, a professor at San Francisco State University and organizer for the U.S. Palestinian Community Network.

The conference’s incendiary tone was evident from the outset. Eduardo Martinez, the mayor of Richmond, California, who aligns with the Democratic Socialists of America, drew resounding cheers from the crowd during the opening session for explicitly justifying Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Martinez stated, “If Palestine were a schoolyard playground, I would be a Palestinian. And that part of me that couldn’t endure the abuse any more would be Hamas.” His participation underscored the event’s controversial nature, as he was seen later in the weekend wearing a hat that read, “DD TT IDF” (Death to the IDF).

The conference was convened by a dozen organizations and endorsed by hundreds more, representing vast swaths of the organized anti-Israel movement in the U.S. As with the inaugural conference held the previous year, organizers sought to use the three-day gathering to address the current political moment and to bring together critical voices in the struggle for Palestine. This event highlighted the complex interplay of political, religious, and social dynamics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting broader debates and tensions within global political and religious communities. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” the ongoing discourse calls for a balanced approach that seeks justice and peace for all parties involved.

Source: Read the original report