The article discusses the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) recent actions regarding a Gaza ceasefire resolution. In November 2023, the APHA became the first professional organization to pass such a resolution, but faced swift and repressive backlash from its leadership. A two-year lead time for new resolutions has been enforced, protests inside convention spaces are banned, and there are threats against speakers who deviate from their approved presentations. Notably, Amy Hagopian, a respected member, was expelled for partaking in a silent protest against the APHA’s stance on Gaza.
The APHA’s leadership’s aggressive reaction contrasts with their more lenient responses to previous resolutions on police violence and wars abroad, which the article attributes to the APHA’s financial ties to government and capitalist sources, especially in relation to U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Despite these repressive measures, opposition among members is growing. Activists organized rallies and distributed literature both inside and outside the convention, with the aim of building a movement against what the article describes as rising fascism and genocide. The article asserts that a strong collective response is essential to safeguard institutions and advocate for those suffering globally, particularly in Palestine and elsewhere.
