“Gaza Is the Compass”: Detroit Hosts the Largest Pro-Palestine Conference in the U.S.

Detroit, Michigan, will host the largest mass conference for Palestine in the United States under the slogan “Gaza Is the Compass” from August 29 to 31. Organizers and participants hope the event will serve as a turning point for the global movement in support of Palestinian liberation.

According to a statement from the conference’s official page, the theme reflects the conviction that Gaza grounds the struggle and embodies the sacrifices of the Palestinian people:“Gaza plants our feet firmly, reminds us of the path of struggle, exposes the forces we face, and clarifies the road to liberation. This is why Zionism and imperialism are waging a continuous genocide on Gaza, and this is why we, the people of the world, will resist it at every turn.”

The conference will bring together activists, organizations, and community members across North America for a weekend of strategizing, skill-sharing, and mobilization in support of Palestine.

A Critical Moment for Palestine

Organizers describe the event as taking place at a historic crossroads for the Palestinian struggle. While Gaza continues to face mass killings under Israel’s war machine and ethnic cleansing expands in the West Bank, global solidarity has reached new heights.

In the U.S. and Europe, the Palestinian narrative has gained unprecedented visibility, while Zionism faces a crisis of legitimacy in its traditional Western strongholds. This shift has been fueled by daily images of atrocities in Gaza, which have shaken the conscience of millions worldwide.

Responding to Repression

The Detroit conference is also framed as a direct response to U.S. government crackdowns on Palestinian solidarity. Beyond its military and political support for Israel’s war on Gaza, Washington has also targeted activists and organizations with surveillance, arrests, and legal harassment.

Organizers emphasize: “The struggle for Palestine will not be broken, no matter the pressure.”

Building on Last Year’s Success

This is the second annual People’s Conference for Palestine. The first, held in May 2023, drew around 3,500 activists and youth groups from across the U.S. That gathering established a nationwide coordination framework, launching joint campaigns that placed Palestinian solidarity firmly on the international map.

With a larger program and broader participation, the 2024 conference aims to amplify that momentum.

Expanded Program and Cultural Engagement

This year’s program will feature:

• Speeches by Palestinian leaders and activists from Palestine and the diaspora

• Panels and workshops on current campaigns and future strategies

• A cultural program showcasing Palestinian heritage, music, and traditions, connecting younger generations with their roots

Organizers expect attendance to exceed last year’s numbers, making it one of the largest pro-Palestine events worldwide.

A Call to Action

The conference is described as an open invitation to all people of conscience—anyone who rejects genocide, opposes occupation, and stands for justice.

From Detroit, participants pledge to raise their voices together: “Palestine will remain present in our hearts and memories. The blood of the martyrs will not be in vain. The struggle continues—until liberation and return.”