In 1986, Edward Said and Salman Rushdie sat down to talk at the ICA. Professor Said launched his book After the Last Sky: Palestinian Lives and discussed his and the collective Palestinian identity, exile, return and the right to return. Much of what they discussed played out the following year, during the First Intifada.

This panel brings together activists, academics and writers to think through solidarity as the seed of liberation. Together, they discuss and explore how to build a world of sovereignty, health, resources and belonging for all through action, analysis and narrative.

In the context of global struggles against legacies of colonialism and multi-generational injustices, what must be done to counter and transform genocidal and structural violences underpinned by racialisation and gender? From the possibilities of Palestinian self-determination, to changing political and cultural imaginations through memoir and journalism, and to abolitionist thinking and praxis, how can histories of domination and dispossession be remade?

Inspired by poet Sarona Abuaker’s experiment in relationalities, this gathering is a collective effort by independent and small publishers Silver Press, Ignota, the87press, STUART with Mosaic Rooms, Verso, Peninsula Press, Tilted Axis Press, Divided, Prototype, Book Works and Pluto Press. Bringing together readings, screenings and listening sessions, this gathering holds space for grieving and imagining in solidarity with Palestine and liberation struggles around the world. To borrow from artist Tai Shani: 

‘Solidarity is beautiful in deep, meaningful ways that can banish the flat darkness of nihilism. Solidarity is the boundless mess of the imagination put into action – sometimes it can feel frictionless and safe, but sometimes it also demands risk. Though the beauty of solidarity is that a group can come together and find safety and strength collectively, to effectively hold power to account.’

Featuring: Anahí Saravia Herrera, Aurelia Guo, Azad Ashim Sharma, Christina Hazboun & Knut Jonas Sellevold, dj pls, Elaine Mitchener, Isabel Waidner, Jennine Khalik, Jumana Emil Abboud, Lucy Mercer, M. NourbeSe Philip, Nisha Ramayya, Olivia Sudjic, Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, Rosalie Schweiker, Rose Nordin, Sarah Shin, So Mayer, Steve Willey, Yamen Mekdad, Zarina Muhammad.

Elaine Mitchener’s closing performance improvises on poems and texts by Jay Bernard, Thuyên Nãh, Dicteé by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha and the song There It Is by Jayne Cortez.