Nationwide surge in pro-Palestine action finds voice in Montana

In the expansive landscape of Montana, a grassroots movement known as Montanans for Palestine (MT4Palestine) has emerged, dedicating itself to public education about the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and advocating for Palestinian rights, according to outreach representative Noelle Huser. 

Local members Sophia Fortunato and Sudha Petluri expressed that the organization aims to bridge the geographical and cultural divide by fostering a deeper understanding of the conflict and promoting solidarity from the American Northwest.

The initiative by MT4Palestine is part of a broader trend of social movements across the United States responding to the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been ongoing since Oct. 7, 2023 due to an attack from the Palestinian militant force, Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya. These movements collectively embody holistic ideals for supporting Palestine amidst this long-standing conflict. 

"By the end of 2023, we had logged nearly 3,300 pro-Palestine actions since Oct. 7 across 622 different cities and towns in all 50 U.S. states, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam,” according to data from the Crowd Counting Consortium (CCC), a project aimed at measuring political mobilization. The CCC has noted that this represents "the largest and broadest pro-Palestine mobilization in U.S. history."

Fortunato, a leader who focuses on strategy for the Bozeman chapter, emphasized that the mission is to not only raise awareness but also to encourage active community engagement. She highlighted the organization's goal to provide the Bozeman community with factual information and perspectives that are often overlooked or omitted in mainstream discourse.

Petluri shared her personal journey towards activism, revealing initial hesitations about organizing for Palestine due to a perceived lack of personal connection and comprehensive understanding of the conflict's history.

 "It's only since Oct. 7 that I've become more educated and involved," she stated. In Bozeman on Nov. 18, 2023, Petluri's engagement in advocacy marked a pivotal turn following her first participation in a MT4Palestine rally. Petluri reflected on the impact of collective action. 

"The biggest thing is as an individual you can do something. We as individuals compose a group, and as a group, we can do great things, we can do huge things," she said. Underscoring a transformative period of learning and engagement that has deepened her commitment to the cause, she said.

Petluri further elaborated on the importance of inclusive dialogue, asserting, "We’re all entitled to speak on this. This is something that is happening right now. It's something that everybody can speak on, anyone can find a way to relate." She went on to highlight the multifaceted ways in which the Israeli-Palestinian conflict intersects with various global movements, from feminism and Indigenous rights to disability rights and education, highlighting the universal relevance of the issue.

Facing challenges, specifically in overcoming misconceptions and biases surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, members of MT4Palestine remain committed to advocacy. Petluri addressed some misunderstandings, distinguishing between anti-semitism — prejudice or discrimination against Jewish people, according to the Oxford dictionary — and Zionism which, according to Britannica, is a Jewish nationalist movement whose goal is the creation and support of a Jewish national state in Palestine. 

"Israel is not Judaism and people need to separate the two,” she emphasized. 

Fortunato advocates for education and open-mindedness as pathways through the obstacles of misconceptions and biases. "It's never too late to learn more and educate yourselves. With the way that the Internet is now, we can look things up really easily, but make sure you're looking at a variety of sources,” she said. 

Fortunato also reflected on the tangible effects of MT4Palestine's efforts, citing a successful town hall meeting that was convened in response to controversy over a Palestinian flag displayed during a Christmas Stroll. 

"We had folks from all ages showing up, and on the whole spectrum [of beliefs], from: I’m pro-Palestine, to I'm kind of in the middle and I'm here to learn,” she said. “We were able to hold an open dialogue, and I think that that was a really beautiful opportunity to see the reaction to something that happened in our community and then use it to bring people together in a conversation that felt safe and moderate.”

Both Fortunato and Petluri stressed the importance of bridging communication gaps within the community as a key strategy for their cause. They leverage digital platforms to extend their educational outreach, which ensures that anyone who encounters their message online can immediately grasp the essence of their mission. "Our first line of defense is education through our media platforms. We're trying to make it really clear if someone finds us, they know right away what we're about," Fortunato said, highlighting the critical role of an online presence in their overall strategy.

Throughout their interview, Fortunato and Petluri unanimously advocated for the significance of informed dialogue and the indispensable role of grassroots advocacy as a way to foster understanding and solidarity across continents.

As MT4Palestine looks to the future, Petluri emphasized the importance of learning from previous successful efforts to further refine and achieve the organization's goals. "We're trying to do a lot more welcoming education and outreach-type activities, like the town hall [meeting]," she said. While she expressed admiration for the effective educational initiatives conducted by the Missoula chapter, Petluri said: "We would love to replicate that in [the] future with events where we could add a little bit more of a planned agenda to teach folks about the issue."

Fortunato remains optimistic about the organization's potential for growth and the impact of their efforts. She also shared excitement about an upcoming event designed to further engage and educate the community. "We are planning a film screening with the [Democratic Socialists of America] in Bozeman, and that is going to be a Palestinian film." The event will be on Feb. 25 starting at 1 p.m., located at 422 E. Mendenhall, and will feature the film “Mayor” produced and directed by David Osit.

For those interested in learning more about MT4Palestine and its activities, Fortunato and Petluri invite engagement through various channels. MT4Palestine can be contacted on Instagram @MT4Palestine or through itsLinktree at linktree.com/MT4palestine.