ARTIST PLACARDS

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGWPe70brc/gTl4v_jzEkwPDxcrvsKCiA/edit?ui=eyJIIjp7IkEiOnRydWV9fQ

For 76 years, the Israeli government has been brutally exterminating indigenous Palestinians in order to steal their land and homes. Before 1948, Palestine was under British colonization. Without permission from the indigenous Palestinians, the land was forcibly taken and “given” to the Jewish settlers through the political ideology of Zionism to establish a Jewish settler colony named Israel. This movement was heavily supported & funded by the West. As a result, in 1948, 750,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from their homeland through mass murder and forced evacuation, in a catastrophe known as the Nakba. Today, under Israel's apartheid using strict military control, over 85% of the land is occupied illegally.

There are now over 6 million Palestinian refugees in the world, many of who are not allowed to return to Palestine.

source: thepalestineacademy.com/resources

The Israeli army, fully backed by U.S. weapons and funds, has been targeting Palestinian heritage sites, museums, universities, and mosques, leading not only to the extermination of the Palestinian people, but also erasure of their existence through cultural genocide.

As of Feb. 2024, the Palestinian Ministry of Culture has reported that nearly 200 historic buildings and 12 museums and cultural centers, have been destroyed or damaged by Israeli airstrikes. This includes the Great Omari Mosque and Church of Saint Porphyrius -- the oldest mosque and oldest church in Gaza, respectively.

Western governments, corporations, and media networks are manufacturing consent for the genocide in Gaza by actively silencing Palestinian voices.

From censorship of Palestinians and their content across Meta's platforms (including FB and IG) during Israel's forced evictions of Palestinian families in Jerusalem in 2021 --to CNN's story-approval process being skewed by "systemic and institutional bias toward Israel" in the coverage of the war on Gaza, these institutions are complicit in the ethnic cleansing of Gazans.

We will remain loud for Palestine through highlighting art that envisions a liberated Palestine and resist attempts to silence voices who fight for Palestinian life. This silent auction aims to provide a safe space for artists and organizers to express solidarity through creativity.

Auction Q&A!

How can I submit art into the silent auction?
Fill out this form by Nov. 16th at 11:59PM CST if you'd like to sell your art, good, or service for the silent auction fundraiser.
ALL ART MEDIUM WELCOME. Goods/services can include but are not limited to a tattoo, gift basket, a haircut package, a massage, or a weekend getaway at a homestay
Do I have to be able to attend the event to submit an auction item? No, although it is highly recommended, we understand if you cannot make it.
Since there will be online bidding available, you can still submit the art/good/service via this form. If you are in Little Rock and can drop of your art / donation for display at the event, the week of Nov 17th, please email tristinelam24@gmail.com
When does the auction end?
The auction runs from 5PM CST on Saturday November 23rd until 9PM CST on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024. If not enough pieces are sold at the end of the night, we may extend the auction deadline. TBD.
What is bid increment? Reserve price? Buy now price? Automated bidding?

Starting Bid Price: The minimum amount someone can bid. Usually 25-50% of market value.

Bid Increment: The minimum amount you must add to the current price of a bid. Usually 10-15% of market value.
Buy Now Price: If you love the piece, the price to buy it immediately and take it out of auction! (Available on some pieces only)
Reserve Price: A hidden minimum price for the piece to be sold. If a piece does not meet its reserve price, organizers may contact the active bidders to discuss next steps.
Automated Bidding: Instead of entering a new bid each time you’re outbid, simply put the maximum you’re willing to pay, and automated bidding will keep bidding on your behalf unless it reaches your max!
If I win, how do I collect the artwork?
The Madina Institute will be open on select hours the following week for pick-up. If unavailable, our volunteers will do our best to coordinate hand-deliveries within Little Rock. If unavailable for hand deliveries, or located outside of Little Rock, AR, you may be requested to provide a shipping label for the artwork.
Can anyone bid on a piece?
Yes! Anyone can join the auction! Even if you're outside of Little Rock, AR.

Event Q&A!

Where are my donations going?
All net proceeds from this event will directly support on-the-ground relief organizations (50%) including Heal Palestine and The Sameer Project (@TheSameerProject), as well as provide funds to families’ GoFundMe in Gaza to buy food, water, & shelter (50%).
Who are the event organizers? What is "Little Rock Peace for Palestine"?
The event is organized by volunteers of Little Rock Peace for Palestine, a movement of Arkansans mobilizing a grassroots network to disrupt the political, financial, and material connections between Arkansas, the United States, and Israel. Our vision is a future of justice, equality, and dignity for all people from Arkansas to Palestine

Since the launch of LRPP in 2021, we have mobilized to call for the Little Rock Board of Directors and Pulaski County Quorum Court to support an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid access, and protections against xenophobia, through leading peaceful protests, education, and political advocacy. In one month, we had 3,000 letters sent to our elected officials. We have raised over $3,500 for organizations like the Palestinian Red Crescent, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Medical Aid for Palestinians. We disrupted business as usual at the Clinton Library and Governors Mansion. We have built bridges across faiths with meals, prayer events, and festivals in solidarity. The 20+ protests held with 300+ participants have brought our rage, grief, and love to the streets of Little Rock.
Every effort counts in resisting oppression and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
What is Heal Palestine?
HEAL Palestine is a registered 501(c)3 nonpolitical, nonprofit humanitarian organization working to provide every young Palestinian in Gaza a chance for a brighter future through Health, Education, Aid, and Leadership.
In June 2024, HEAL Palestine opened a new field hospital in Mawasi, Khan Younis in collaboration with Kuwait Specialist Hospital in Rafah amidst the scarcity of healthcare infrastructure. This stands as a beacon of hope for people of Gaza & provides vital medical services to those affected by conflict, displacement, and health crises. On Oct. 29, 2024, they provided 880 boxes of essential medical supplies to this hospital, bringing much-needed resources to one of Gaza’s hardest-hit areas.
HEAL Palestine is on the ground, working tirelessly to prepare 10 large pots of food every day, providing hot meals to over 2,000 displaced individuals in Deir al-Balah, Gaza– where all aid channels are blocked. Their presence in besieged northern Gaza is more than a response to hunger; it is a symbol of resilience and hope in one of Gaza’s most isolated regions.
Through their Global Healing Program, HEAL Palestine offers children like 12-year-old Hadi and 15-year-old Ahmed, who lost their legs due to Israeli bombardment in Gaza, an opportunity to travel abroad to St. Louis and Sacramento, respectively, to receive specialized prosthetic care. Through advanced medical care and rehabilitation, HEAL Palestine aims to give children an opportunity to reclaim their future & rebuild their lives after the trauma they have endured.
What is the Sameer Project?
The Sameer Project is a grassroots aid organization led by four Palestinians in the diaspora. They're a donations-based aid initiative working to supply an emergency response & funding to displaced families in Gaza
- “100% of your contributions will be used to deliver aid. Whether it's through direct cash aid or purchasing and distributing essential goods, your support will make a tangible difference in the lives of Gaza families.”
- They've secured 900+ tents & delivered them to families over the last 6 months. Their on-the-ground team has sourced, purchased, stored, & distributed the tents to families in need for free. Their list has over 6,500 families, so they need our help to purchase and distribute more!
Their tent encampment project provides shelter & support to displaced families in Central Gaza, which serves some of the most vulnerable families: high-risk perinatal & neonatal females, children with physical or mental disabilities, adults with special needs and mobility issues, war injuries & chronic diseases, etc.
Your donations will provide funding for securing land for an encampment, raw materials, equipment, labor, sourcing of tents, construction of stationary tents, water & waste services, basic medical point, & staff to keep an orderly and safe environment.
The Sameer Project's 3 main projects currently:
- 1) Central & South: Tents, Cash Aid, and Medical Aid
  - The “Sameer Abu Salim Tent Initiative” (named after one of the team member’s martyred father) was formed to secure, purchase, and distribute tents in Southern Gaza
- 2) The Refaat Al Areer Camp - The Sameer Project
  - Also supplies cash envelopes on an “as needed” basis to allow families the independence to secure the specific aid they require for themselves
- 3) North and Central Gaza: Food, Water, Diapers + Milk, Medical Aid In collab with Translating Falasteen
  - Their focus currently has been on the north of Gaza, due to the starvation & lack of humanitarian aid efforts there.
  - They are currently providing community kitchens and/or water trucks EVERY SINGLE DAY in the north of Gaza!
Which families in Gaza will funds be raised for? (via GoFundMe & Paypal)
Are my donations tax deductible?
Yes, if you donate directly to HEAL Palestine, a registered 501©3 nonprofit organization. Please email littlerockpeaceforpalestine@gmail.com proof of your donation for our records

#63 The Damascus Rose Keychains by Trisha Lam