I would like to begin by thanking the organizers for inviting me and providing this platform to make our voices heard. However, we must now step out of our comfort zones where texts are read on paper without any concrete action being taken. We are in the middle of a global crisis. The political atmosphere has caused people’s ideas to remain static; we must develop the consciousness of self-expression and reject the dictatorial attitudes of leaders like Trump and Netanyahu who dictate what is right to the entire world.

Today is International Nelson Mandela Day. Years ago, we came together in honor of Nelson Mandela and pledged to work for justice and continue his legacy. While men, women, and children were subjected to exploitation in South Africa back then, today the same atrocities continue out of greed and a lust for power. We must stop believing the illusion of the US as an unstoppable superpower and reject the manipulations pushed through their cinema and educational systems. We must take pride in our own identities and beliefs, standing up to declare that human lives are truly valuable.

The issue of Gaza and Palestine wounds me deeply. Two years have passed since the International Court of Justice ruling regarding Israel’s actions in 2024. Millions have lost their lives since, yet who has taken action to enforce that ruling? Journalists attempting to convey the truth in the region are left unprotected, while fake news on social media misleads the public. Regardless of our background, race, or origin, human dignity comes first, and we must stand up for it. The United Nations and international bodies fail to take real action, allowing individuals with arrest warrants for serious crimes to travel the world freely.

I lost my brother six weeks ago; he passed away witnessing the tragic deaths of children in Palestine. I ask you to view the children of others who lose their lives as your own and act accordingly. We will not merely publish a declaration here and leave; we will forge a global chain of solidarity. Down with Trump, down with Netanyahu! Free Palestine!