From City Park To Gaza: Kickout Apartheid & the Solidarity of Soccer
Soccer as the unifying language continues to foster productive conversations and events amidst the world around us.
As temperatures rise in these summer months, so too has the political tension and atmosphere of our day-to-day lives. Whether you’re monitoring the escalating situation in the Middle East, exercising your First Amendment right via protests, or heeding caution amidst ICE raids; it’s been increasingly hard to “stick to soccer.” For as much as I love getting on a mic on two different occasions in a week to talk footy-either MLS or Rapids-this past week I found myself asking “What’s the point?” and swiftly returned to the doom-scrolling. Amidst the constant stream of horrid images, domestic terror, and what felt like non-stop breaking news, I got an invite from former Box State Footy contributor Dan about an event that helped snap me out of this cycle.
That event was named Kick Out Apartheid and the concept was simple enough: a kickaround meant to help raise funds for displaced families and children in Gaza. On a hot summer Sunday, coming off the heels of mass nationwide protests, I made my way to City Park for an event that was everything I needed in that moment; both sobering and uplifting.
Two pop-up goals, a rectangle outline of cones, and a scattered pool of balls surrounding the field was all that was needed for a playing pitch. Soccer in its simplicity continues to be the most unifying sport and this event shared much of that simplicity. Aside from the field, in the welcoming shade, was a table with information about further political activation, donation links, and snacks-free for all. In all essence of the word it was a lowkey event and much of it was needed following much of the organizers’ long Saturday of protesting.
I caught up with one of the organizers of the event who wished to remain anonymous (who will be furthered referred to as ‘Alex’) and they were able to tell me more about the event while we watched the final stages of the mini tournament play out. Kick Out Apartheid-not to be confused with the online campaign that shares the same name-was an event created to help raise funds for The Sameer Project; a grassroots initiative meant to directly support refugee camps in Gaza with supplies like baby formula, food, tents and cooking equipment.
The event sparked from organizers in the Colorado Palestine Coalition who were looking to do more events meant to engage the community. Alex’s background in other political groups, which they emphasize they’re not speaking on behalf of, helped massively. With this background, connections within political groups, and with the help of some volunteers the event came together with about a month’s notice. Alex notes the event was also commemorative of the 77th Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba where more than a million families were displaced from their homes to make way for the Zionist state.
One important aspect of the event that must be highlighted was the diversity of the various people in attendance. There’s something about Denver spaces that allow for a variety of cultures, people, and backgrounds to coexist. I say this as someone who at one time was deep in the trenches of the wider Colorado music scene and found myself feeling like a fish out of water in some instances but that’s rarely been the case in Denver.
The event and the vibes were all welcoming. Despite being a politically charged event, there wasn’t any pressure from anyone at or behind the event to steer into their political leanings. If you felt an inclination to further step into the world of political organizing there were definitely on-ramps for you but it was never forced.
This wasn’t just a hangout though. For as fun as it was to get out to a Sunday afternoon event in the city, I don’t want to underscore the importance of the event and the “why” of the event. Box State Footy has mostly remained outside the scope of these types of stories in part due to a lack of time commitment and lack of education and understanding.
As mentioned earlier, the funds raised at the event were for the Sameer Project. Days after the event, Alex informed me about the tragic killing of Mosab Emad Ali; the main camp coordinator for the project. The Sameer Project posted the news online along with some touching words. Their tribute was powerful and devastating.
Mosab was the most honorable, honest, caring, fierce but gentle, strong but soft, intelligent, respectable man we have known. He absolutely adored his wife and his three children. He was their protector - he made us all feel safe. Mosab made working in a genocide feel doable, feel impactful, despite his own pain and struggles.
Upon hearing the news the sobering reality hit. I was able to go home after the kickaround and escape back into my day-to-day life. Mosab Emad Ali was not as fortunate. Despite being a leading voice of a project that only aims to help, his fate living under an apartheid state had not changed just like many Palestinians before him. It’s easy to feel small and powerless in these moments but that’s precisely what events like Kick Out Apartheid are for. They’re there to bring people together and further offer support to the issues that are pertinent to collective freedom. As Alex puts it:
We are all gathered here because apartheid is bad. A lot of people, especially kids and women, are suffering in Gaza… we just wanna be out here in community (and) point to an issue that really needs our attention… talk about how we wanna win collective freedom because none of us are free unless Palestine is free.
I left City Park feeling heavy but grounded. Not only had I stepped outside of my online bubble of chaos but I had a chance to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and felt the joy and unifying power of soccer in a shared space. Solidarity doesn’t always start with a march. Sometimes it’s as simple as a kickaround on a summer day. Soccer in it of itself won’t end genocide, but it’s a pathway towards something deeper.
That same solidarity, when practiced consistently, moves us closer not just to social justice as a whole but to the various people in our communities, the issues that shape our day-to-day and keep in tact our emotional connection to the rest of the world.
Below is our full interview with Alex. I implore everyone to follow the link below to donate to the Sameer Project. Thanks for reading. Free Palestine.
https://linktr.ee/thesameerproject