Women of Palestine: The Heartbeat of the Resistance
Saturday, September 14 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Palestinian women have been and continue to be pivotal figures throughout the 76+ years of resistance to occupation. In this conversation, panelists will share their experiences, insights, and strategies for confronting adversity, fostering community resilience, and advancing the cause of Palestinian liberation.
Susan Abulhawa is a renowned novelist, poet, and activist whose work has reached audiences around the world. Her books’ translations, reach, and sales have made her the most widely-read Palestinian novelist of all time. Abulhawa is the author of several acclaimed works, including the internationally bestselling Mornings in Jenin and Against the Loveless World, which have solidified her place as a leading voice in Palestinian literature.
In addition to her literary achievements, Abulhawa is the founder of Playgrounds for Palestine, an international NGO dedicated to supporting the Right to Play for Palestinian children. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, a platform celebrating Palestinian culture and storytelling.
Huwaida Arraf is a distinguished Palestinian-American attorney and human rights activist with over two decades of experience advocating for Palestinian rights and international justice. She earned her Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law, focusing on international human rights and humanitarian law. In 2001, Arraf co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a non-violent resistance organization nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Arraf has played a pivotal role in several campaigns, including leading the Free Gaza Movement, organizing the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, and establishing the first accredited clinical legal education program in the Arab world at Al-Quds University. Currently based in Michigan, Arraf practices civil rights law at Goodman Hurwitz & James, P.C., while continuing her activism through various leadership roles, including co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild Palestine Subcommittee and board member of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. Her work has consistently focused on challenging injustices through legal and grassroots efforts in the fight for human rights and justice for the Palestinian people.
Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison is a Palestinian-American rights activist and community organizer with notable experience in the political arena, currently the only Arab American elected to a political party’s Central Committee in Virginia, and has been heavily involved in policy and the election process at the state and national level for years. Zeina is a leader in public dialogues through webinars, debates, or discussions on racial justice reform, housing, and foreign policy, particularly related to Palestine. Zeina Ashrawi Hutchison serves as the ADC National Director of Development and Expansion. This significant and strategic role has been instituted to fortify our growth endeavors, foster community connections, expand the chapter’s network, and further extend the ADC’s civil rights advocacy reach across the nation. She also holds a position on the Executive Board of the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights (VCHR) and is involved with several organizations that focus on human rights, women’s issues, and the concerns of marginalized groups
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