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Tlaib tells pro-Palestinian activists to continue protest: ‘We are winning’

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Tlaib tells pro-Palestinian activists to continue protest: ‘We are winning’


Detroit — Pro-Palestinian activists are making headway with Americans and in Congress, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib said during a sweeping speech to thousands gathered for a weekend conference in downtown Detroit.

She said her colleagues in Congress are “scared” by protesters at their district offices and town hall attendees questioning U.S. arms sales to Israel. She said activists are “winning” outside of Washington, D.C., and encouraged them to continue mobilizing for Palestinian rights, boycotting companies that support Israel’s war and protesting the U.S. support of Israel.

“The tide is turning in a way that it can never be turned back,” she said. “Palestine will be free.”

Tlaib was the closing speaker at the People’s Conference for Palestine, a weekend conference at Huntington Place that ended Sunday. She exited to a standing ovation.

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The conference was organized by pro-Palestinian groups. Other speakers included doctors who have worked recently in Gaza, a local civil rights attorney, journalists, artists and activists including Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained for 104 days for his role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

Khalil spoke Saturday. He said he continues to appear publicly and speak on behalf of Gaza despite the risk it places on his freedom because “silence is not an option.”

“I will not remain silent in the face of genocide,” he said. “I will not be silent when people are being starved and massacred.”

Tlaib is first Palestinian American elected to Congress, which she noted is an achievement of the Detroit voters who sent her to D.C. She credited Detroit and her Palestinian heritage with teaching her to rely on people, not institutions, and to continue speaking up for Palestinian people.

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“They thought they could kill us, rape us, imprison us, uproot us from our olive tree farms, starve our children to death, and we would disappear,” she said. “Well guess what? Now we’re in Congress.”

Tlaib read a letter written by a Palestinian woman about her experience raising children amid the bombing, food insecurity and squalid conditions in Gaza. She also likened America’s arms sales to Israel to recent moves by the Republican-led Congress and the Trump Administration to cut health care spending and food assistance programs in the most recent budget and deploy federal agents in cities including Los Angeles, California, and Washington, D.C.

“A government that doesn’t value human life in Gaza will never value human life in our country,” Tlaib said.

Erin Cavataro, the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s director of community relations, previously told The News her organization is “deeply disturbed that the (conference) provides a platform to speakers advocating for the destruction of Israel.

“(It) does nothing to advance peace and alarmingly escalates tensions in Detroit, around the country and abroad,” she said.

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Cavataro also said she looks forward to a day when there is peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and when the region is not threatened by terrorist organizations.

Tlaib spoke after Belal Muhammad, a mixed martial artist and former UFC Welterweight Champion who is of Palestinian descent. He said his fights are merely games compared to the fighting Palestinians do daily to survive. They are “the strongest people in the world,” he said.

Muhammad encouraged people to proudly display Palestinian flags and wear their keffiyeh to symbolize their Palestinian heritage.

“Show them we walk with pride,” he said. “Show them who you are.”

Israel launched a massive offensive into Gaza after Hamas-led militants attacked Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people and capturing 251. Hamas still holds some hostages amid foundering cease-fire negotiations.

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Since it started its campaign in 2023, Israel has killed more than 63,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The United Nations in August declared there was famine in Gaza alongside increasing spread of preventable disease.

ckthompson@detroitnews.com



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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams

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Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams


ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.

Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.

The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.

Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.

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Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.

Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.

Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.

Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.

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“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”

Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.

Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.



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Detroit, MI

Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

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Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades


CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.



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Detroit, MI

SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side

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SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side


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SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.

The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.

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The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.

This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.

The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.

SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.



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