In Our Power: U.S. Students Organize for Justice in Palestine

by Nora Barrows-Friedman

In the years following Israel's 2008-9 "Operation Cast Lead" assault on the Palestinians of Gaza, a new kind of student movement emerged on U.S. campuses, in solidarity with Palestinians seeking to fully exercise their human and political rights within their historic homeland. These students have brought national attention to "BDS," the worldwide campaign in support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions of Israel until it abides by international law. Nora Barrows-Friedman, journalist and editor for the award-winning Electronic Intifada, traveled across the United States in 2013-14 interviewing the young organizers at core of this movement and documenting the rich political legacy these activists have built in the face of considerable opposition.

Genres: Politics

274 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2014

About the author

Nora Barrows-Friedman is a journalist, editor, radio broadcaster, musician, and mother.

Since 2012 she has served as associate editor and audio production director for The Electronic Intifada, an independent publication focused on Palestinian issues.

She is the author of In Our Power: U.S. Students Organize for Justice in Palestine (Just World Books, 2014).

Previously, she was the senior producer and co-host of the "Flashpoints" show on Pacifica Radio. A resident of Oakland, CA, Nora is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Media Freedom Award from the Media Freedom Foundation.

Reviews

[Jim Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the student movement to support justice for Palestine.

[Maryam]

Extremely interesting to learn about the history of the movement and all of the patterns—of repression, solidarity, and growth alike—that are all coming to a head right now; especially the discussion about the advent of Zionist lawfare and the weaponization of Title VI that began with Kenneth Marcus and the Brandeis Center, as well as the legal loopholes used to prosecute the Irvine 11 for peaceful protest. I had no idea the idea for BDS first initiated at the UC’s in the early 2000s, or how impactful the official creation of BDS in 2005 was. Also hilarious that the first National SJP conference was at Columbia… they would never do that again 🤣

[Zach Wyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dynamic and captivating story of the origin and evolution of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses. Barrows-Friedman moves fluidly and skillfully between interviews with student activists, academics, human rights workers and lawyers, and historical analysis, and speaks knowledgeably on the issue of intersectionality, illustrating the ways in which systems of oppression intersect and the ways in which a new generation of activists are connecting with and supporting one another. This book is both a chronicle of systemic injustice and human suffering, as well as a source of much-needed hope -- a rousing tribute the ways in which young people are discovering the power of solidarity and struggling to realize a more just and equitable world for us all.

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finally come to the end of this truly great book. The student activism on campuses across the USA is really massive and unique. The author did a wonderful job of interviewing students of different backgrounds who all are working in unison to achieve liberty and justice by lawful means. It gave me hope to learn that there are people out there who care.

[Justin Podur · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing compilation of words and records from movements across the US for justice in Palestine. The author writes in a very self-effacing way, always foregrounding the activists she's writing about, their ideas, and thoughts, providing context, but never inserting herself or her own evaluations. I hope that a coffee-table book version with color pictures could become available at some point.