Tarek Bazzi

On April 7, 2024, during Israel's war against Hamas, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) tweeted a video that included excerpts from Bazzi’s speech at the April 5, 2024, International Al-Quds Day rally in Dearborn, Michigan. “Al-Quds” is the Arabic term used for Jerusalem. MEMRI referred [00:00:02] to Bazzi as a “Michigan activist,” and in his speech, he called for the destruction of the United States and Israel.

In the video excerpt, Bazzi said [00:00:01]: “We've been asked in the past: Why are our protests on the International Day of Quds…so anti-America? Why don't we just focus more on Israel and not talk so much about America? Gaza has shown the entire world why these protests are so anti-America, because it's the United States government that provides the funds for all of the atrocities that we just heard about [from a previous speaker].”

The excerpt then showed [00:00:30] footage of Bazi saying: “Imam Khomeini, who declared the International Day of Quds…would say to pour all of your chants and all of your shouts upon the head of America.”

Next, the video featured [00:00:43] rally participants interrupting Bazzi as they chanted in Arabic: “Death to America!” multiple times.

The excerpt continued [00:00:51] with Bazzi quoting Malcolm X: “‘We live in one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this earth.’”

In the next clip, Bazzi said [00:01:00]: “It's not Genocide Joe [U.S. president Joe Biden] that has to go. It's the entire system that has to go. Any system that would allow such atrocities and such devilry to happen, and would support it – such a system does not deserve to exist on God's earth!”

Bazzi’s excerpt concluded [00:01:17]: “When these fools ask us if Israel has the right to exist, the chant, ‘Death to Israel,’ has become the most logical chant shouted across the world today!”

Rally participants then chanted [00:01:27] in Arabic: “Death to Israel!” multiple times.