*To ensure the safety of the organizers mentioned in this article, last names have been omitted from reporting.

On Friday, Feb. 23, D3 Arts hosted a community gathering advocating for a free Palestine and an end to all genocide, raising funds for an on-the-ground humanitarian aid organization in Palestine. The event raised over $4100 and sold over 150 tickets, all of which will be directed to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). 

PRCS is affiliated with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement whose site states they are a “global humanitarian network of 80 million people that helps those facing disaster, conflict and health and social problems.” PRCS specifically “works towards preventing and allaying human suffering, protecting life and health, ensuring the respect of human dignity, preventing disease and promoting health, social care and volunteering,” according to their website. 

The event was entirely donation based and put together by the community, with no initial budget, just one individual who realized how much money an event like this could generate. “I’m in an amazing group of all of these performers and artists, so I just started reaching out to various community group chats telling them about my idea, and slowly but surely the [planning] group chat grew and grew until we had about 50 people in it,” Zab, the principal organizer of the event, said.

Given the event was built from the ground up by local creatives, the space emanated community resilience and solidarity. “There’s this overwhelming feeling of love and support, it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life … this community is looking out for each other,” Zab said. One of the performers, Saridae, made a similar comment, saying that “it’s definitely a very safe space. It feels very diverse, there’s queer folx, Black folx, white folx, etc., there’s people from all walks of life which I love.”

The cause united people with shared values and created a space where everyone could comfortably express themselves and call loudly and unapologetically for liberation of Palestinians and all oppressed peoples. “This would not be possible without community. That’s why we named the event [Community for Palestine] because we’re uniting as a community for the same cause,” Zab said. 

The fundraiser featured art of all forms; visual, tactile, performance and lyrical. Tables surrounded the sides of the space selling art and raffle tickets for donated prizes, giving away informative zines about the Palestinian genocide and tabling for other donation outlets. One table encouraged people to donate to journalists in Gaza who are putting their lives at risk to share the realities of the atrocities occurring in Gaza with the world. Another table called for donations to the organization ‘E-sims for Gaza’ that is working to keep the community in Gaza connected with their families and the outside world. 

The hallway leading to the performance space featured the visual art of over five different artists, ranging from prints, collages and stickers to crochet works, jewelry and resin ashtrays. All of the art was generously donated by local artists to raise money, and many works featured the Palestinian flag, a raised fist and watermelons (a symbol of Palestinian solidarity). Many of the attendees wore handmade patches from an artist reading ‘end all genocide’ and ‘free Palestine’ and one artist crocheted watermelon pins in the corner that they gave to audience members throughout the night.

The performances that occurred consistently throughout the night included speeches and poetry, a solo vocalist, burlesque dancers and a two-person band. The event started at 6:30 p.m. and went on until 11:00 p.m., and energizing interludes were provided in between acts by a local producer called Cuephoria.

Saridae is a Black singer/songwriter born and raised in Denver who engaged the audience by speaking as if she was in conversation with the people in front of her, asking everyone to take a ride with her of emotions and reflections as she sang. After the energizing yet thoughtful performance of her first song, Saridae performed the poem ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou’ and thanked the audience for being there, saying she hoped they would never have to unite under these circumstances again.

Saridae did a cover of a Frank Ocean song and sang a few original songs, taking time for a moment of silence for Gaza before her final song, which she dedicated to Palestine. “Activism is rooted in needing something to change and with art you’re able to draw people’s attention and once you have their attention [you can] do what you want with it,” Saridae said.

Zab is part of a collective called Queerlesque, which is a burlesque and cabaret dancing group created by queer people for queer people. Three dancers performed with various apparatuses, starting with an impressive pole dance routine followed by an artist doing an exciting lip sync performance and the third performer mesmerizing the audience with their hula hoop and dance skills. The first performer came back on for one last circus performance on a ‘lollipop hoop’ which left the audience with their jaws dropped. Support Queerlesque by watching them perform at the Denver Sexploratorium.

A Palestinian poet named Hamudi performed an original poem about the current and historical situation in Palestine, referencing dreaming of freedom and finishing the poem by saying that “the facts of life make it hard to breathe.” 

Art and activism are inextricably related and bringing the two together creates a united and empowered community ready to advocate for change. “Art in itself is resistance and activism, we go against everything we’re taught by being creative so it makes sense that this group of people come together to support such an important cause because just in being, we are resisting,” Amanda, another organizer of the event, said.

The event was generously catered by the well-loved Jerusalem restaurant, and sponsored by D3 Arts, a local non-profit focused on community health that is oriented towards uniting people through art, culture and recovery. It is a welcoming space that feels comfortable and safe for racially diverse and queer community members. The walls are covered in vibrant, often culturally significant murals created by Denver locals. 

The organizers encouraged attendees to continue advocating for a free Palestine and liberation for Sudan and the Congo by educating themselves and their peers and continuing to engage with grassroots organizing. “If we’re able to fight back with our brain and support one another, there’s power in numbers so just continue to do what you can. You don’t have to save the world, just start with one penny at a time so just do what you can,” Zab said.