A protest against Israeli atrocities in Gaza recently took place in Yosemite National Park, where a group of four climbers displayed a banner reading “STOP THE GENOCIDE” along with the colors of the Palestinian flag on the famous rock face of El Capitan.
The climbers placed their 25-foot-wide, 10-foot-tall banner about halfway up the 3,000-foot Nose Run between the El Cap Tower ledge and Texas Flake.
They unfurled the banner at 7 p.m. on Monday and left it open overnight, finally picking it up and taking it down before noon on Tuesday.
The climbers – Miranda Oakley, Alix Morris, Alexa Flower and Henry Whittaker – are members of “Climbers with Palestine”, a grassroots group formed in December last year following major events in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The conflict has resulted in more than 37,000 Palestinian and 1,200 Israeli deaths since it began last year, with many more injured and displaced.
Initially focused on raising funds for humanitarian aid organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the Palestine Children’s Fund, Climbers with Palestine has expanded its efforts to include high-profile actions such as the El Capitan banner protest.
Several slogans were considered for the banner, including “Free Palestine” and “Let Gaza Live,” but they settled on “Stop the Genocide” for its clear and powerful message. Alix Morris explained the choice, stressing her direct call for an immediate end to the violence.
Miranda Oakley, who is of Palestinian descent and an experienced climbing guide, expressed her modest goal for the protest – to inspire action among others. While she identified herself as a mountaineer rather than an activist, she urged people to take meaningful steps, whether through political engagement, consumer choices or interpersonal dialogue, to address the ongoing crisis.
The impact of the conflict on civilians in Gaza has sparked intense global debate, but Morris and her colleagues stressed the fundamental need to alleviate suffering and promote mutual support over division.
Climbers with Palestine did not notify the National Park Service in advance, but conducted thorough research on regulations and precedent, noting previous instances of banners being displayed on El Capitan.
Emily Meg Weinstein, another co-founder, underscored the importance of protesting in such a prominent climbing scene, particularly as a Jewish participant supporting Palestinian friends and American allies. He highlighted the role of climbing in strengthening the global community and urged more climbers to take up humanitarian issues.
Climbers with Palestine also encouraged donations to the Palestine Children’s Fund, highlighting its critical role in providing medical and humanitarian aid to young people in the Middle East.
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