As violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalates, Philadelphia’s Sudanese diaspora is speaking out in support of Sudan’s liberation, increased humanitarian aid, and increased attention to the crisis. Last month, hundreds gathered for a rally and march that started at Dilworth Park, sharing stories emerging from Sudan, where famine and displacement is worsening.

Three teachers at Philadelphia’s Baldi Middle School have just filed a federal complaint with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) after facing severe disciplinary action for their support of Palestinian students. As part of their complaint, the three teachers – Caroline Yang, Emily Antrilli, and Jordan Kardasz – are underscoring community members’ allegations that the Philadelphia School district is failing to take accusations of discrimination against Palestinian students and pro-Palestine staff seriously.

As pro-Palestine protests continue gaining momentum on college campuses around the world, primary and secondary school teachers, students, and families are bringing the fight for their right to teach about Palestine to the Philadelphia Board of Education. At yesterday’s public school board meeting, teachers, staff, and families concerned about the protection of free speech in school testified about their growing concern that the district has been mishandling discourse on Palestine in schools.

A desire to return home is common among many American-based Sudanese. A member of the Sudanese Youth of Greater Philadelphia, Rymaz Ahmed told Al-Bustan about the concerns she has regarding the impact of distance and trauma fatigue. “You feel the burden of what’s going on back home but you’re not experiencing it directly, so there’s a disconnect,” Ahmed said.

Hundreds of Philadelphia-based Armenians recently gathered outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the Armenian Genocide Walk, commemorating the 109th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. While the sensation of mourning and honoring the dead was clear, there was also a widely acknowledged understanding that Armenia’s struggle against genocide is not just history, but an ongoing reality.

Two pro-Palestine faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) along with Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine (PFJP) filed a lawsuit against the university in an attempt to prevent it from complying with a U.S. congressional committee’s demands to hand over confidential documents on its pro-Palestine faculty and students.