Author: Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity

Artist Mahasen Ktheeb – killed by Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza, December 2024

The genocide of the Palestinian people has reached unprecedented levels. Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people and destroyed 90 % of the structures of Gaza: homes, apartment buildings, cultural centers, religious institutions, hospitals, schools, roads, fuel and water stations and farm land. The remaining displaced civilian population struggles to survive an ongoing intentionally engineered starvation campaign which is depriving children, newborns and adults of the essential right to eat food and drink water. The four food distribution stations paid for by our tax money and serviced by US mercenaries are “designed as death traps.” This is a violent act of terror that has been widely condemned by the international community. 

Many within the Israeli government continue to articulate their genocidal intentions of “erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the earth” and Prime Minister Netanyahu, a war criminal, denies starvation is taking place. While the UN and human rights organizations within and outside Israel condemn the ongoing genocide, America continues to provide military, political and financial support for continued war crimes against a vulnerable civilian population. Israel has received more than $300 billion in US aid, much of which bankrolls the brutal occupation and murder of the indigenous population in Gaza and the West Bank.   

The unbearable trauma inflicted on the Palestinian people affects us all. Our shared faith leads us to see humanity as one family in the eyes of our creator. The Quran and Talmud teach that whoever kills a soul, it’s as if they killed the entire world, and whoever saves a soul, it is as if they saved the entire world. An entire universe is being destroyed. 

The Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity calls on all people of conscience to exercise the tools of our democracy while they are still available. We are responsible for the actions of our elected local and national leaders. We call on all Americans to demand that our government prioritize human rights and the preservation of life over the political alliances that perpetuate a large-scale, deliberate assault on immigrant populations in our own country. We call for an end to the genocide perpetrated upon the Palestinian people and we call for the implementation of the right of the Palestinians to return to their historic homeland.

Our beloved colleague Awdah Hathaleen, a 31-year-old father of three children and a prominent Palestinian activist featured in the film “No Other Land,” was assassinated July 28 by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Awdah’s name means “return” in Arabic. He embodies his family’s long held hope to return to their homeland. We demand that all Palestinian refugees be granted the right to return home and all US immigrants retain the right to remain safely in their homes without fear. 

Awdah Hathaleen  

Those who have ever wondered what they would have done had they lived during the Nazi holocaust need only look in the mirror and observe what they are doing today.  As survivors of unspeakable loss remind us, silence is complicity. As people of faith, we believe the preservation of human life, dignity and integrity requires us to raise our voices and take action today to stand firmly against genocide. 

Those who have ever wondered what they would have done had they lived during the Nazi holocaust need only look in the mirror and observe what they are doing today. As survivors of unspeakable loss remind us, silence is complicity. As people of faith, we believe the preservation of human life, dignity and integrity requires us to raise our voices and take action today to stand firmly against genocide. 

We ask you to turn your prayers into action in the following ways:  Call your Members of Congress

1. Demand the immediate defunding of the Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation which is committing war crimes and the refunding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine.

2. Call your representatives to demand the Israeli government return his body to the family. Awdeh Hathaleen’s body has not been returned to his family, and the Israeli government is refusing to release it or allow the family to decide where he should be buried.  

As we continue to deepen our Love Over Fear work—centering healing, connection, and the transformative power of art and culture—we are honored to welcome Pablo Guerrero as a vital extension of this vision. In these times of growing persecution against immigrants, Pablo’s voice and story shine as beacons of resilience and hope. His journey and project, Caminos de Esperanza: Voces de Migrante / Pathways of Hope: Migrant Voices, is rooted in courage and love, embodies the kind of sanctuary we strive to cultivate: one led by those who know the weight of the journey firsthand. At IM4HI, we believe that those closest to the struggle carry the wisdom to lead us forward, and with Pablo’s lived experience and creative spirit, we are reminded that even in darkness, the light of community and love prevails.

Learn more about Pablo’s work and the directly impacted experiences he’s uplifting!

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Art and culture are powerful tools for healing, connection, and resistance—guiding us to create safe spaces and Sanctuary that honor and nurture our beloved community.

Since its launch in February 2024, the Love Over Fear campaign has been a vibrant force in Oakland—bringing together art, culture, and community action. Rooted in the spirit of Sanctuary, the campaign expresses our collective call for love, safety, and community investment, using creativity as a powerful response to harm and injustice.

We’re excited to announce that our Instagram Live series has relaunched for its second year! 🎉 Amina Lei continues to host the Love Over Fear conversations, introducing our new series: Reaffirming Sanctuary—diving into what it means to love and protect our communities. 💜🏡

As part of this work, we’ve been uplifting conversations around the Sanctuary movement—featuring reflections from our staff who hold lived experience and continue to shape this vision from the inside out.

In February, we kicked things off with IM4HI’s Co-Executive Director Rev. Deborah Lee, who reflected on recent events and the broader fight for Sanctuary. Since then, we’ve been honored to feature:

• Danny Thongsy, sharing the power of Sanctuary through the lens of post-incarceration and immigration justice.
• Jose Ruben Hernandez, reflecting on what Sanctuary means for undocumented communities and the fight for belonging.
• Kelly Younger, speaking to how Sanctuary supports healing and stability for individuals directly impacted by detention and displacement.

Each story reminds us that the significance of Sanctuary lives in those most directly impacted.

✨ Check out these powerful conversations on our Instagram page and learn how you can be part of this movement.

📸 Save the Date: Love Over Fear Sanctuary Photo Exhibit

We’re thrilled to announce our second annual Sanctuary Photo Exhibit, opening this April 2025 in Oakland!

Curated by Oakland-based cultural strategist B Dukes, this exhibit will be hosted at Art Together in Chinatown, featuring work by artists directly impacted by immigration. Their art explores how Sanctuary shows up in their lives and cultural practices, offering healing and protection for themselves and their communities.

Opening Day: Sunday, April 20

Closing Reception: Monday, April 28 | 6–8PM — An evening of art, food, and celebration with featured artists!

📍 Art Together, Chinatown Oakland – 1200 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612
🔗 [Learn more about Art Together]

🎨 Featured Artists:

• Lalin St Juste
• Alfredo Calderon
• Marybeth Soriano
• Pablo Guerrero
• Guillermo Medina
• Chanthon Bun
• Amina Lei
• Katerine Giron

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Love Over Fear 2023-2024 Recap: If You Missed Our Earlier Events, Catch Up Here!

2024 Highlights
This past year, we hosted Love Over Fear Oakland through IG live podcasts, photo exhibits and community concerts with the help of our Cultural Strategists!

If you didn’t have a chance to experience our earlier events, don’t worry—there’s still time to engage and explore the beautiful moments we’ve shared together. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve accomplished since the launch:

Instagram Live: Unveiling Love

Amina Lei’s podcast, Unveiling Love in Oakland: Stories of Community and Social Change, featureD powerful weekly conversations with Oakland leaders and community members. Catch up on the latest episodes or see the full video project available on our YouTube channel.

• Watch the first curated Unveiling Love video (8 minutes) here.
• Catch all the interviews here on our podcast playlist. 

With the artistic vision and skills of Amina Lei, we created an Oakland Love Map that highlights parks, landmarks, organizations throughout Oakland that embody love and care for the city! Copies of the Oakland Love Map are available for the community to display in their homes, businesses, and organizations.

Interested in your own map? Stop by our upcoming exhibit on April 28 and pick up a copy!

Photo Exhibit: “Love Letter to Oakland”

Our first photo exhibit, Love Letter to Oakland,  launched on September 10, 2024, at the Freedom Community Clinic in Fruitvale, Oakland. Curated by B Dukes, the exhibit highlighted community leaders dedicated to fostering safety and care in our city.

Community Concert Series

Francisco Herrera’s Love Over Fear, El Amor Vence El Temor concerts have been a resounding success! Our most recent concert on June 22, 2024, featured incredible performances by Dyna Erie, Marimba Cultura Maya Todosantera, DJ Freaky Emo, and an open mic session. These concerts continue to bring our community together and celebrate the spirit of Oakland.

• Watch our June Community Concert
• See photos from previous Love Over Fear concerts at the Fruitvale Plaza

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