Viktoria Zerda
Viktoria Zerda is an anti-Israel activist who participated in a pro-Hamas rally on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more on October 7, 2023.
As of November 2024, Viktoria Zerda was listed online by the anti-Israel group Eyewitness Palestine as a member of its board and part of the “Fundraising Committee.”
As of the same date, the Eyewitness Palestine website also said that Zerda was an “abolitionist attorney and clinical law instructor” at Rutgers University (Rutgers) Law School. Other websites said that she graduated from Rutgers Law School in 2022 and that after graduating from law school, she worked at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as an “immigrants’ rights legal fellow,” starting in September 2022.
Organizers:Philly Palestine Coalition (PPC), Temple SJP: a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)
Location: Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA
At the rally, activist Romance Albarqawi said during her speech: “What we saw yesterday morning was decolonization taking place!” The crowd cheered in response to this line as well as after another line when she said: “The resistance is justified!” Workers World Party activist Michael Wilson later said: “I think that we should all give an applaud right now to Hamas for a job well done!” The crowd again cheered in response.
As of November 2024, Viktoria Zerda was listed online by the anti-Israel group Eyewitness Palestine as a member of its board and part of the “Fundraising Committee.”
As of the same date, the Eyewitness Palestine website also said that Zerda was an “abolitionist attorney and clinical law instructor” at Rutgers University (Rutgers) Law School. Other websites said that she graduated from Rutgers Law School in 2022 and that after graduating from law school, she worked at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as an “immigrants’ rights legal fellow,” starting in September 2022.
Philly: Emergency Solidarity Rally
Date: October 8, 2023Organizers:Philly Palestine Coalition (PPC), Temple SJP: a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)
Location: Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA
Viktoria Zerda’s protest appearance
On October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more, anti-Israel groups in Philadelphia held an “Emergency Solidarity Rally.” Chants during the march to the rally featured various calls for Israel’s destruction and celebrations of Hamas terrorism by using the euphemism “resistance.”
At the rally, activist Romance Albarqawi said during her speech: “What we saw yesterday morning was decolonization taking place!” The crowd cheered in response to this line as well as after another line when she said: “The resistance is justified!” Workers World Party activist Michael Wilson later said: “I think that we should all give an applaud right now to Hamas for a job well done!” The crowd again cheered in response.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped hundreds and wounded thousands. War crimes included mass rape and torture. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.” For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
