Santa Cruz activist honor the lives of children lost in Gaza
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) - Activists in Santa Cruz organized a day-long demonstration this weekend with the goal of individually recognizing the thousands of children killed in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
"Reading began at 830, and all day long we've been reading the names, starting at zero. At the age of zero, there were 700 babies names," Activist Sheila Goldberg Carrillo said.
It’s about honoring the lives taken, but for people like Sheila Carrillo, it's a way to channel the difficult emotions of the past two years.
"I have a hard time accessing my feelings, but people were weeping in it throughout the day," said Sheila Carrillo.
Emotions which is something Rolla Al-Aydi is running out of.
"Paralyzed, emotionally, mentally, all levels," said Palestinian refugee Rolla Al-Aydi.
She grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza before coming to the united states 15 years ago as a student.
Her entire extended family remained in Gaza.
"You know, I just keep receiving bad news. You know, another cousin got killed. The whole family of your relatives, airstrike, and not a home, a tent. They are burning people alive in the tent," said Al-Aydi.
Al-Aydi said she lost 200 relatives. Among them, some of the children named on a list.
"I read some of the names of cousins, little ones, and show and share the pictures. I want people to see them as as people with names, with stories, dreams and connect with them. See their favorite colors, favorite food," said Al-Aydi.
Next to reading the name, folks here are trying to educate people about Israel-Palestine conflict and continue to call for, they say, an end to the genocide.
“As a jew I don’t want to stand for this. None of us want to stand for it, but as a jew I don’t want it to represent me
Sheila said she feels a connection to the Palestinian cause and argued that it’s not a religious problem on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, but a political one.
“Periods of time where we have just lived together in Palestine. We have lived peacefully there like brothers and sisters, before the British decided to give Palestine away," said Goldberg.
The activists say they’ll continue organizing and Al-Aydi.. Is still holding on to hope.
"Any revolution, any change, it takes people. And I still believe in the power of people," Al-Aydi said. "I might not be able to see my family or save them, but at least I do my part in speaking up or sharing, you know."
