Johara Shamaa

On October 3, 2024, CBS News reported: “Shamaa and several others were arrested while protesting the war in Gaza at Temple's Howard Gittis Student Center…”

Temple responded to the incident with a statement that said: “‘ [what] occurred last week was not a peaceful protest…It was a major disruption to an event intended to help students find jobs and internships…As a result of the aggressive protesting, several visiting employers were escorted from the space for their safety and students were denied an opportunity to engage with potential employers – some students left the event entirely.’"

The statement also alleged that “several protestors pushed and shoved officers when police attempted to “‘lawfully’” detain the leader of protest.”

Shamaa led [00:08:10] protesters in multiple chants at a protest outside Philadelphia City Hall. Shamaa’s chants included calls for violence and [00:12:00] for Israel’s destruction. The protest was held in opposition to an Israeli military operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group in Gaza.

The rally, titled “Philly Stands with Gaza, was organized in response to Israel’s Operation Breaking Dawn (OBD) against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group. Protestors marched in support of the Philadelphia Coalition for Palestine, a network of anti-Israel organizations including Temple SJP, Jewish Voice for Peace Philadelphia chapter and IfNotNow Philadelphia chapter.

At the rally, Shamaa led [00:08:10] the chants: “There is only one solution! Intifada revolution!” and [00:53:07]: “From Philly to Gaza, globalize the Intifada!”

Other chants Shamaa led [00:01:12] protestors in were: “1, 2, 3, 4, Occupation no more! 5, 6, 7, 8 Israel is a terrorist state!” and [00:07:20]: “Be-ruh, be-dam nifdik ya Falasteen [With spirit, with blood, we will redeem you, Palestine].”

Shamaa also led [00:13:05] the well-known chant: “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!”, which is used [00:02:52] to call for the elimination of the State of Israel. She also led [00:46:05] the chants: “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” and [00:10:10]: “Brick by brick, wall by wall, apartheid has to fall!”

Brice Patterson, a featured [00:16:26] speaker, marched with protesters and intentionally blocked [01:08:45] traffic. Patterson slammed [01:08:47] a hand on one of the cars, and when the driver tried to move past the protesters, Patterson threatened [01:09:27] the driver: “Don’t do it, do not do it! I will break that f**king window and beat the f**k out of you! Don’t you dare!”

Toward the end of the rally, Shamaa led [01:27:13] the chant: “Free, free Palestine!” Less than a minute later, Ahmed Shaat, another protest leader who was holding a bullhorn, threw [01:28:01] two Israeli flags onto the pavement. Another rally participant, Mohammad Omaren, then burned [01:28:20] the flags.

Shaat led [01:28:26] protesters in the chant: “Allahu Akbar [God is the greatest]!” Protestors then chanted [01:28:32]: “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! The Occupation has got to go!”

Shaat then yelled [01:28:57]: “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! The yahoodi [Jew] must go!”

While the flags burned, Shamaa could be heard [01:29:38] leading the chant: “Israel, Israel, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!”

Another protester at the rally held a sign that read: “Stop Israeli Holocaust against Palestinians.”

Toward the end of the rally, Shamaa led [01:30:07] the chant: “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes!”

Nada El-Hillal, another protest leader, led [00:00:40] the chants: “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” and [00:00:28]: “Stop the crime! Israel out of Palestine!”

Photos posted on the Temple SJP Instagram page the day following the rally featured [slide 5] a sign claiming Israel was a “TERRORIST STATE.” Another sign accused [slide 4] America and Israel: “THERE IS BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS.”