The quiet evening air in Denver was disrupted by the sound of pots and pans clanging together as a crowd gathered outside the Colorado Capitol.
As grey clouds began to gather overhead, participants raised their voices in unison, chanting, “Free, free Palestine!” while hammering kitchen utensils against their cookware.
This demonstration was initiated by Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda, who recently highlighted the dire living conditions faced by her neighbors due to the forced famine in occupied territories.
Owda reported that one third of individuals living in the West Bank and Gaza are enduring days without food.
As a result of Israeli blockades, food and aid have been unable to reach their homes, and people often walk for hours, risking their lives in search of basic ingredients to feed their families.
Many have been killed by soldiers during these desperate attempts, particularly at distribution centers.
According to the United Nations, approximately 100,000 people in occupied Palestine are suffering from “severe acute malnutrition.”
In the United States, sympathetic voices like Ms. Rachel have urged their audiences to recognize this humanitarian crisis, appealing to their empathy for the starving children.
Despite these efforts, however, the world continues to remain largely uninvolved.
Human Rights Watch reported in 2024 that, following the attacks in Israel in October, the Israeli government has intentionally deprived Palestinians of essential resources like clean water, medical aid, and food.
Targeted strikes have hit hospitals, schools, and religious institutions, endangering the future of the Palestinian population.
The organization reported that 90% of educational facilities in Gaza have been destroyed or repurposed for military use, leaving nearly a quarter of a million children without the means to learn for almost two years.
As a result, over one million Palestinians now face a grim reality, uncertain of when or if they will receive their next meal.
A staggering 70% of the population is experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, pushing their health to a critical point.
The act of forced famine—where an occupying nation limits caloric intake—is recognized as an international war crime.
Taking to social media, Owda made a simple yet powerful request to the world: make noise.
Participants across the globe were encouraged to bang their pots and pans, symbolizing the empty stomachs of those suffering from starvation in Palestine.
In Denver, under grey, threatening skies, hundreds gathered at the Capitol in response to this call for action.
Initially, the sound of metal ladles striking saucepans formed a chaotic symphony which would soon be joined by other makeshift instruments like wooden spoons and 5-gallon paint buckets.
Organizers decided to forgo speeches, opting instead to let the banging of pots and pans be their message.
“We don’t have the usual programming, we’re not doing speeches today,” one of the organizers declared through the megaphone.
“We’ve been shouting ‘free Palestine,’ then ‘ceasefire,’ now we’re simply asking, ‘stop starving them.’ What’s next?”
This determined percussion of metal and cookware continued for 90 minutes, enveloping the area and drowning out the regular sounds of the passing city traffic.
Honks from passing cars further amplified the sounds of protest, as drivers and pedestrians offered their support.
The demonstrators had strategically chosen the Capitol lawn location, knowing that many people would pass by as they left the city, providing an opportunity for them to confront the critical issue at hand.
In an effort to raise awareness, participants wanted the public to reflect on the struggles of starving children in the West Bank, fathers in Gaza dodging bullets to get aid, and mothers fearful of their families’ survival.
Meanwhile, another group of Denver residents held a parallel event in solidarity along Speer Avenue, outside the office of Colorado’s senior Senator Michael Bennet.
Bennet has often avoided meeting with Palestinian liberation activists and has been known to mischaracterize their cause as antisemitic.
In a previous vote, he supported sending an additional $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel while introducing a non-binding resolution supporting humanitarian aid.
Protesters outside his office, surrounded by a plywood barrier, emitted clattering sounds from pots, occasionally crossing the street to engage with idling traffic at red lights.
They waved signs with the Senator’s phone number, encouraging passersby to voice their own concerns to their representatives.
Despite some negative reactions from individuals in nearby vehicles—such as a few sneers and an inappropriate gesture—most feedback from the public remained overwhelmingly supportive.
Many drivers tooted their horns in solidarity and expressed their alliance through smiles and gestures of encouragement.
As the rush hour progressed, the demonstration continued to grow, with some participants coming from both sides of the street to join the gathering.
Activists raised banners on the bridges over Cherry Creek, sharing messages aimed at raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
Rather than reaching a definitive climax, the protest slowly began to dwindle as participants gradually departed, their final sounds echoing into silence.
The demonstrators echoed a sentiment crucial to independent journalism: to highlight resistance and resilience in the Heartland of America.
Capturing moments of protest or activism in communities, whether through visual storytelling, collective action, or personal reflection, remains vital, especially as American policies continue to evolve in complex and often detrimental ways.
In conjunction with the ongoing protests for humanitarian aid in Palestine, Vince Chandler, known for his compelling work in journalism and documentary filmmaking, emphasizes the importance of covering stories that matter in local communities.
Together with Yellow Scene Magazine, they are committed to ensuring that independent journalism captures the raw truth about American life, revealing the complexities surrounding issues such as healthcare, systemic racism, and governmental actions.
As resistance continues to manifest in various forms, from protests to educational efforts, it serves as a reminder that the voices advocating for change must be heard and amplified.
image source from：yellowscene
