To the Design Justice Network Community:

The Design Justice Network Steering Committee is in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the immediate demand to #CeaseFireNow! As we move together in this moment, we remind our community to apply the Design Justice Network Principles:

DJN Principle #2 states: "We center the voices of those who are directly impacted [...]." Palestinians face the most severe direct impacts of settler colonialism, apartheid, and occupation, under conditions of extreme power asymmetry, and yet their voices are being drowned out. We therefore call on our community to read and share this statement made by a coalition of Palestinian activists, and to follow and amplify @gaza_coalition for ongoing action.

DJN Principle #1 states: "We use design to [...] seek liberation from exploitative and oppressive systems." Settler colonialism, apartheid, and occupation are exploitative and oppressive systems that must be dismantled. We therefore call on our community to be in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Una Lee, co-founder and former Steering Committee member of the Design Justice Network has provided a guide: "Palestine solidarity for designers, artists, and creatives."

We also know that many of us are feeling deep grief in our bones. The DJN Care Pod has recently shared a Digital Care Package on Grief; although it is not specific to Palestine, we hope that it may be a useful offering.

Finally, we note that the DJN Coordination team does not have the capacity at this time to respond to questions or comments.

In love and solidarity,
Current and former DJN Steering Committee members:

Nour Arafat, Sasha Costanza-Chock, Boaz Sender, Wesley Taylor, Elena Silvestrini, Victoria Barnett, Una Lee, and Denise Shanté Brown.