The Beacon Ceasefire Coalition has organized a march to commemorate the 1948 Nakba of Palestine. According to Wikipedia: “The Nakba (Arabic: النَّكْبَة an-Nakba, lit. 'the catastrophe') was the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Mandatory Palestine during the 1948 Palestine war through their violent displacement and dispossession of land, property, and belongings, along with the destruction of their society, culture, identity, political rights, and national aspirations. The term is also used to describe the ongoing persecution and displacement of Palestinians by Israel. As a whole, it covers the fracturing of Palestinian society and the long-running rejection of the right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants.” Israel celebrates this time as “Israeli Independence Day,” which began their sanctioned occupation of Palestine.

Locally, the Palestinian restaurant, Ziatun, is historically closed on this day.

Says the Beacon Ceasefire Coalition press release: “We will have storytellers, poetry, and community to remember the catastrophe that expelled over 760,000 Palestinians, wiped out 531 villages, and killed 15,000 Palestinians. The Nakba resulted in over 7 million present-day refugees and a global Palestinian diaspora. We welcome the Hudson Valley community to honor this day with us, and to march before sharing tea, stories and healing in the park followed by a candlelight vigil.”

*Marchers will meet at 4:45 PM on the river side of the Beacon Train Station (near the Sloop Club - 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon) before marching together to Polhill Park (access details below)

*Those who prefer to not march may meet us directly at Polhill Park at 5PM (Main St & South Ave, Beacon)

*Event is fully outdoors & rain or shine so please bring rain gear and other comforts as needed

*Flyer by Parisa Karami

MAY 15TH NAKBA COMMEMORATION @ BEACON ACCESSIBILITY

MASKS & DISTANCING: Event is fully outdoors. Masking is encouraged, but will not be required. Masks will be available at both meetup spots (outside train station & at Polhill Park). Polhill Park is small so distancing might be challenging, depending on attendance.

PARKING & TRANSIT:

MARCH: Marchers will meet at 4:45 PM on the river side of the Beacon Train Station (Grassy area, with paved sidewalk close by, near the Sloop Club - 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon). There is very limited free parking there, with more nearby at Pete & Toshi Seeger River Park (paved 0.2 mile away). Parking within the train station is paid using the meters near the platform entrance.

POLHILL PARK: Non-marchers can meet at 5PM at Polhill Park (Main St & South Ave, Beacon). Parking available on nearby side streets and on Main St - just be mindful of signs indicating where not to park!

RETURNING TO YOUR CAR FROM POLHILL PARK: Organizers will be available to walk with marchers in groups back to our cars at the Beacon Train Station from Polhill Park, as it will be dark when the event ends ~8PM. Rides are also available back to the Beacon Train Station; please tap an organizer during the event or respond to this email if you’d like a ride back.

PUBLIC TRANSIT: The Beacon Train Station can be reached via MetroNorth, and the Beacon Free Loop bus services both the train station and Polhill Park.

MARCH: We will march up the paved sidewalk from the Beacon Train Station up Beekman Ave to Polhill Park. The walk is largely uphill and 0.6 miles long, with no stairs. Those who do not wish to march can meet us directly at Polhill Park at 5PM.

OTHER DETAILS: Event is rain or shine, so be sure to look at the forecast and bring rain gear if needed! Some folding/camp chairs & picnic table seating will be available at Polhill Park, and you can also bring your own chair. A single-seat, all-gender (but not accessible - 1 step up and narrow doorframe) bathroom is available across the street at Bank Square Coffeehouse until it closes at 7PM. We’ll have a family-friendly kite-making station.

Thank you to Celebrate 845 for their Accessibility Checklist!