Welcome to Dispatch #48! The third anniversary of October 7th is nearly upon us, marking 3 years of Israel's live-streamed genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Around this time (or really all the time), Zionists will come out of the woodwork online and in real life spewing the same talking points to justify Israel's actions. At this point, we've heard them all, but we know it can be hard to know what to say back so we've prepared an article to help you out.
We dedicate this issue to Palestinians everywhere who continue to resist genocide and occupation. Scroll down to get the talking points, learn about a key feature of South African liberation from apartheid, the use of atrocity in propaganda, and resources to help you continue the struggle.
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Easy Actions to Take
Why: An Israeli missile struck a residential block in Gaza, killing 21, but the BBC’s reporting on it omits Israel from the headline and uses harmful passive language. Knowing most people never read past the headline, the article obscures the true culprit of the tragedy. Organized by Newscord
⏱~3min | (US Only) Tell State Legislators to Ban Private Equity from Buying Hospitals
Why: A hospital is the difference between life and death. It is where babies are born, where workers care for their neighbors, and where families turn during the worst moments of their lives. Private equity firms should not get to buy these institutions, pull money out of them, and leave communities to deal with what remains. Organized by OnePA
⏱~3min | (US Only) Demand the Senate Block Trump’s Multibillion Dollar Arms Sale to Israel
Why: Trump just signed off on an alarming multibillion-dollar arms sale of 2,000-pound bombs — thousands of General Dynamics-made MK-84s and BLU-117s and bunker-busting I-2000 penetrator warheads — to the Israeli military. Unfortunately for Trump, this sale isn’t up to him. The Senate can BLOCK it by passing a joint resolution of disapproval. Organized by The Intercept
Little (Movement) Wins
How a Dance Became a Tool for African Liberation
Activist History
One of the most powerful protest traditions is not a chant or a symbol, it’s a dance. The toyi-toyi is a dance performed by thousands, civilians and militants alike, for decades as a form of forceful solidarity against oppression. In South Africa, it became a hallmark of anti-apartheid protests as activists, community members, and resistance fighters struggled for their freedom. The stomping feet, raised fists, and unified chants were an intimidating show of force to oppressors armed with guns and tanks, and today it continues to be a hallmark of protests in South Africa.
But the toyi-toyi did not start in South Africa. Its roots trace all the way to the other end of the continent, in Algerian training camps set up to support African liberation movements. Freedom fighters training used it as a a way to build physical endurance and group discipline. From there it traveled southward through military camps from Tanzania to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and in the process it evolved.
Continue reading to learn about the historical roots of the Toyi-toyi dance, how it evolved, and how it became an essential tool of popular liberation in South Africa.
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Atrocity Propaganda
The Conscious Citizens Dictionary
Atrocity propaganda is the spreading of information about the crimes committed by an enemy, which can be factual, but often includes deliberate fabrications or exaggerations.
The inherently violent nature of war means that exaggeration and invention of atrocities often becomes the main staple of propaganda. Patriotism is often not enough to make people hate the enemy, and propaganda is also necessary. Harold Lasswell, an American political scientist, wrote:
"So great are the psychological resistances to war in modern nations that every war must appear to be a war of defense against a menacing, murderous aggressor. There must be no ambiguity about who the public is to hate."
This is a staple of genocides throughout history, with one of the most recent examples being the debunked '40 beheaded babies' narrative used to justify Israel's actions in Gaza soon after Oct 7th, 2023.
How to Respond to the Most Common Zionist Talking Points
Deep Dive
As of writing this, it’s nearly Oct 7th, 2026, which means it has been 3 years since Israel’s genocide on Palestinians in Gaza began. Like clockwork, you will likely hear the same Zionist talking point recycled again and again. At this point, we’ve heard them all, but we know it can be hard to refute these because some are more clever than others. We’ve put together this article to help us dispel and push back on some of the most common ones we hear all the time (with sources) so that you can be better prepared once you come across one again.
This is, of course, a non-exhaustive list. If there’s a talking point you need help responding to that’s not on here, please let us know by leaving a comment or emailing us.
Continue reading to learn responses to 12 of the most common Zionist talking points we hear
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Resources & Tools
We've gotten a few emails from people who say they didn't realize they signed up for a membership with us, so that might mean people's personal information is being stolen! Here are a few resources to make sure your digital security is up to par. Please share these links with anyone that might find them helpful:
- How to Guard Yourself Against Misinformation Online | A guide created by RumorGuard from the News Literacy Project to teach how to spot and resist misinformation online with helpful tools, practice games, and infographics.
- The Movement Action Plan by Bill Moyer | A strategic framework describing the eight stages of successful social movements.
- SSQRD: Ethical & BDS-Friendly Beauty & Fashion Finder | Discover independent and ethical brands from around the world — curated just for you.
- UpScrolled | An alternative social media platform to Instagram, Facebook, and X that combines all the apps into one friendly user-experience designed to serve people instead of profit.
- Global Accountability Map for Palestinian Rights | This interactive world map shows measures and sanctions taken since October 7, 2023 by states, parliaments, courts, businesses, civil society groups and organizations in response to the ongoing genocide and Nakba in Palestine.
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With Love & Light,
Elisa & Ray
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