Over 50 Santa Cruz community members gathered at Santa Cruz Main Beach on April 6 to commemorate Palestinian Children’s Day, which takes place every April 5. Participants flew kites decorated with colored streamers and statements of solidarity and liberation, including the words of murdered Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer:
“If I must die, let it bring hope.”
Event attendees fly kites at Cowell’s Beach, located in Santa Cruz, CA.
Palestine Solidarity Central Coast (PSCC) hosted the event, “Kite Flying for the Kids of Gaza.” The gathering was inspired by a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) gathering in 2011, where children in Gaza broke the world record for the most kites flown simultaneously. This form of peaceful protest was chosen to honor the enduring spirit of Palestinian children, who continue to suffer during Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians.
A 10-year-old child attended the protest with their family in solidarity with the children of Palestine.
“I want to support Palestine. They deserve freedom and to not be in war,” the child said. “I just want [Palestinians] to be happy and not worried all the time.”
Kalpulli Oceloyotl dancer during the performance.
PSCC has been one of the leading organizations mobilizing Santa Cruz in support of Palestine. They pointed out in a press release that Santa Cruz City taxpayer dollars fund Israel’s war on Gaza and the West Bank. Through mutual aid funds at the event they raised over $1,000 to support a family evacuating Gaza.
The event honored Palestinian children, who are suffering from indiscriminate bombing and forced starvation. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released a statement in March declaring famine is imminent in Northern Gaza, and that Gaza was facing catastrophic levels of hunger and malnutrition. More than 33,400 civilians, including 13,000 children and babies, died in the six months since Oct. 7, 2023.
Performances from Kalpulli Oceloyotl, a group of Indigenous dancers from Castroville, drew attendees to the center of the crowd. They performed an intricate dance that focused on the movement of their feet to offer prayer to Mother Earth. 
Amidst the Kalpulli Oceloyotl’s ceremony sits a display that includes a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian garment.
“We’re invoking and bringing the essence of playfulness, innocence, and holding that space,” said Marcy, a dancer in the group. “And then at the same time, [the performance is] founded in social justice […] it’s important to represent our communities.”
Santa Cruz local Isa attended during their break between work shifts to show their support at the event. Isa spoke to the importance of showing international solidarity:
“No matter if it’s far or near, people need to know that the world is watching, seeing the suffering, and the ignorance of our government.”