By State Representative Eric Bell (D-Jonesboro)
(540 words)
I introduced House Resolution 1001 to divest from Israel, the UAE and the exploitation of Congo’s minerals because when you see injustice, you must speak—and what I witnessed in occupied Palestine cannot be unseen, unheard or unfelt.
Just hours off the plane, walking through the ancient walled city of Jerusalem, I was quickly reminded that under Israeli military occupation, my complexion offered no protection from armed IDF soldiers—but made me a threat to the genocidal apartheid regime. As I marveled at the bright moon—as if illuminated by heaven itself—cascading light over the courtyard of centuries-old mosques, possibly dating to the founding of the city, I stumbled across a plaque on a church marking the birthplace of the Virgin Mary. As emotions stirred, I grasped the silver cross around my neck, and all I could do was thank God for His power and glory and for allowing a little Black boy like me to see the world.
As tears of joy and majesty began to fill my eyes and my heart churned with gratitude, my awe was interrupted. I heard an ominous voice that made the hair on my neck stand and my blood chill: “You! Hands out your pockets!”
I dropped HR 1001 because, while on a bus of twelve, at every checkpoint that bottlenecks and restricts Palestinians from loved ones, education, healthcare, economic activity and every other aspect of sovereignty and freedom, I was checked and even escorted off the bus by men and women armed with assault rifles, forced to endure thorough searches of my body and belongings.
I dropped HR 1001 because I did not meet a Palestinian who had not been shot at, jailed, assaulted or terrorized by the IDF or Israeli settlers.
I dropped HR 1001 for all the mothers of martyrs. For all the pregnant women who lost their children through the brutality of Israeli occupation. For all the fathers of martyrs who watched their child get shot, run over, bombed, beaten or burned to death due to American-backed genocide of Palestinians. For all the sisters and brothers of martyrs who made it home from school only to learn that their sibling was murdered by an IDF sniper or bomb. For all the cousins of martyrs whose family members were murdered in mosques and churches for simply existing as members of different sects of the Abrahamic faith.
As a brother of the only true race—the human race, bound by a single garment of mutuality—I am a brother, cousin and friend of the martyr. Every human who walks this Earth is connected to the martyrdom of the Palestinian people.
I also dropped HR 1001 because I have spoken to Sudanese refugees who survived genocide and war supported by the UAE, only to face oppression under Israeli occupation. I dropped it for the Congolese whose lives are sacrificed to supply minerals for our electronics.
I dropped HR 1001 because of the crimes against humanity witnessed by the Congolese, forced to provide precious minerals for our smart devices and more.
I dropped HR 1001 because I love this country, my state, the world and every human being in it. Justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere—and we must act.
Representative Eric Bell represents the citizens of District 75, which includes a portion of Clayton County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2023 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging and Small Business Development committees.
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The views expressed above and information shared are those of the author.