Among those participating in the rally were high school and college students, Palestinians, activists from the Des Moines Black community, and workers, including a teacher and a Des Moines phone company worker.

Joanne Hughes gave greetings to the rally. Her son, Charles Lovelady, was killed in a racist attack by a security guard at a nightclub in Des Moines two years ago. She told the rally participants that she continues to press for justice in the case of her son’s killing and came to the rally in solidarity with the fight for justice for Palestinian people.

Other speakers included representatives of the Islamic Center, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Zeena Barazenji, 13, who is Palestinian-American and begins high school in the fall in West Des Moines, told the Militant that all his friends "are very supportive of the cause [of the Palestinian people]. The only people who ever make rude remarks to me are just uneducated on the facts. I am fortunate to have information to help educate others."
 
 
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