In a show of solidarity and activism, disabled writers Jane Shi, Alice Wong, and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha have come together to create the “Crips for eSims for Gaza” project. This initiative aims to bring essential internet connectivity to Gaza through the distribution of eSims. The project, born out of a desire to support Palestinians in Gaza, has gained momentum over the past few days.

The genesis of ‘Crips for eSims for Gaza’

Piepzna-Samarasinha, one of the project’s founders, took to Facebook to share their motivation behind this endeavour, saying, “We wanted to build on work that’s been happening lead by Palestinians (and work Jane [Shi] was already doing) to get eSims into Gaza so folks can have Wi-Fi and cell service. It’s a way for crips and allies who may have been feeling helpless and looking for a way to support Gaza to pool our money to make a concrete difference.”

The Canadian poet and educator, known for their social activism, emphasised the significance of collective action, stating that even small contributions can make a profound impact. The “Care Work” and “The Future is Disabled” author urged people to donate money to the cause, recognising that unity among working-class and disabled individuals can create a positive change.

The project is hosted on the Disability Visibility Project site, which was created by Wong, another prominent author and activist who penned an anthology bearing the same name.

Why Gaza is a disability justice issue

Wong had written a piece earlier this year saying that that Palestinian liberation is a disability justice issue. In her post, she wrote: “I’m no expert but I know what it means to be dehumanized, rendered disposable, and oppressed. I know that all people deserve freedom. I know that genocide is a mass disabling event and a form of eugenics.”

On her website, the initiative’s organisers provided insights into its origins, explaining how Egyptian writer and activist Mirna El Helbawi initiated the #ConnectingGaza movement in October 2023 to provide eSims directly to people in Gaza based on updated carrier needs. Subsequently, poet and organiser Shi decided to leverage her art to raise funds for eSims, along with supporting the Palestinian Youth Movement Toronto’s Community Defense Fund.

Shi’s fundraising efforts were swift and efficient, given that her “Immunocompromised people are worth protecting” stickers, which she had previously sold to support Indigenous families in British Columbia affected by fires and floods, were readily available on her Big Cartel page.

What encouraged Shi and the entire project’s team even more was when they discovered that one of the eSims they had purchased had been activated, currently serving to connect Palestinians in Gaza to the internet. This activation also provided a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing violence, protests, censorship, and grief surrounding the situation.

The project has subsequently garnered support from a diverse group of disabled and queer writers and activists, all echoing the sentiment that every effort counts in refusing the genocide against Palestinian people. Poet Rasha Abdulhadi, a disabled, queer Palestinian Southerner, urged everyone to do whatever they can to resist the elimination of the Palestinian people, stressing the importance of solidarity among disabled individuals worldwide.

How to support the project

For those who wish to contribute to this vital cause, the organisers have provided QR codes for easy donations. Whether it’s a small or substantial contribution, every bit helps in bringing internet connectivity and hope to Gaza.

For more information and to support the “Crips for eSims for Gaza” project, please visit the Disability Visibility Project’s website. Remember, your support and donation can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need.