This week, Lara and Michael have the pleasure of speaking with Chris Smalls, the President of the Amazon Labor Union. Chris highlights the need to organize for social change. Michael speaks about the Histadrut, a 1920’s labor union created to ban Palestinian workers from equal access to jobs. The pod discusses the overlaps in the Palestinian struggle for freedom and that of workers from Google, Amazon, and Starbucks, and the importance of community and solidarity. Chris touches on the AFL-CIO and talks about his experience creating his own union. This week’s episode is a call to action for all employees, regardless of your sector.

Lara dives into this week’s episode by breaking down a recent US court case which rules that boycotts are not a protected form of speech. In over 30 states, employees are protesting a law required of them by employers stating that they will not boycott Israel, and this often has no bearing on the job responsibilities. In better news, the European Union recently lifted funding restrictions on Palestinian organizations citing no ties to terrorism, as no evidence has surfaced. Michael shares a story of a young Israeli boy who was sexually assaulted and then arrested by the Israeli government when he tried to report it, and Lara investigates why most articles reporting on Palestinian on Israeli violence use the phrase ’lightly wounded’ when speaking about Israeli soldiers. Michael points out how the tactics used by the occupation are the same as those used by the Nazis. Lara discusses The Youth Law and how child labor/jailing is forbidden everywhere else in the world except for in Israel. The duo also look into the ‘shoot to wound’ policy carried out by Israeli forces and the ensuing amputee crisis in Gaza.

Lara and Michael have the pleasure of interviewing renowned journalist Jamal Elshayyal this week. Jamal began his field experience aboard the Mavi Marmara as part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The first time he witnessed someone being killed in front of him. Jamal also highlights his colleague Shireen Abu Akleh’s career and her murder by Israeli forces, which still demands an investigation. He touches on the murder of a number of journalists, Ghufran Harun Warasneh being one of them. Many names have not received as much attention despite the ongoing targeting of journalists attempting to cover the Palestinian right to resistance.

Jamal also speaks of the BDS movement, specifically companies like General Mills and Ben & Jerry’s who have divested. Finally, he touches on what it was like to cover the news of the Arab Spring and Muammar Gaddafi’s death.

This week Lara and Michael sit down with the founder and CEO of Palestinian Hustle, Samer Fidy. Samer shares the journey that led him to start the Palestinian-owned small business that donates a portion of every sale to charities in the United States fighting food insecurity, and NGOs on the ground in Gaza providing clean water. Samer speaks of his desire to teach his children about responsibility and giving back to both local and global communities. Michael jokes about Samer’s affinity for Starbucks and contemplates whether or not one should strike up a conversation with your barista about Palestine. Samer surprises the Palestine Pod with stories of his past career pursuits then shares wild memories from his time living in Palestine. Finally, The Palestine Pod announces a limited apparel drop in collaboration with Palestinian Hustle, available on both our websites.