We are the voices that live, work and play beside you.

We are your friends and neighbors.

We are Jews, Christians and Muslims who come from different cities and countries. 

To this bridge that connects us, that symbolizes connection

We stand here together to be seen and heard, representing those who cannot.

We are here every Saturday at 6 p.m. since last winter. 

We come bringing our signs, new ones, too, as more join our vigil:

“Let Gaza Live” “Stop the Killing” “Cease Fire to Save Palestinian and Israeli Lives”

“Start Seeing Palestinian Children” “In Memory of Over 40,000 Women and Children....”

Like the movements that have come before us, we believe in peace and justice, neither of which is happening in Palestine as the murder of so many innocents continues. We cannot, we must not let them die in silence. As a caring community, in a world where their voices have been silenced, we must speak out.

My name is Sveta.

I am a Russian Jew from Moscow. My family has lived through the repressions against Jews in the Soviet Union for many years. I came to America nearly 30 years ago and after living in NYC for many years we moved and now live in Callicoon.

I am heartbroken and ashamed of the genocide that is currently happening in Palestine. I am ashamed of the Jewish nation being represented by extremists and ashamed of the country I am a citizen of for fully supporting this genocide. 

The pain of watching Palestinian kids, children just like mine, being blown up by American bombs is beyond my comprehension. I often feel a need to participate in the vigil organized by the Upper Delaware community on the bridge in Narrowsburg to personally meet like-minded people, to ease the pain of witnessing hundreds of innocent children, women and men being brutally murdered, starved and tortured every day and at the expense of our tax money. 

My family stands for peace and peaceful solutions. We stand for humanity, respect and unity regardless of religion and politics. The vigils became a safe place for me, a hopeful time and place that lets us know that we are not alone.

My name is Hussein Omar, M.D.

As an anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician for 40 years, I cannot bear seeing and hearing about the starvation and dehumanization of the Palestinian children and their families having surgeries, amputations without anesthesia or follow-up pain medications, antibiotics, etc. It is inhumane to see Israel destroying all of Gaza’s hospitals, infrastructure and water supplies and preventing all humanitarian aid, especially medical supplies. It is heartbreaking seeing our taxpayer money funding and arming these atrocities in Gaza while the whole world just stands by doing nothing. Where is humanity? Where are human rights? Shame on our generation for allowing this. This is why I stand in vigil at the Narrowsburg Bridge to inform people and let them know that this is unacceptable. Please join us in solidarity at the Narrowsburg Bridge on Saturday nights.