As a black woman, I have observed throughout history how leaders of my race, fighting for their rights and freedom, have often been branded as "terrorists". The ignoble traditions that targeted figures like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr are persisting even now, presenting a risk to individuals who are justly fighting for the rights of their people. One such person is Bisan Owda, a brave journalist documenting the genocide of the Palestinian people under the Israeli occupation.

Her Emmy-nominated work exposes the US-funded Israeli government that has been identified by the top UN court as an illegal occupation. This world-renowned court also ruled that there is plausible evidence that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. 

In spite of this, Bisan Owda is being unjustly smeared by a coalition of over 150 "celebrities", including Selma Blair and Debra Messing. This misleading campaign parallels the tactics once used against Mandela and King. They are attempting to label Bisan as a "terrorist", despite her affiliation with a political party fighting peacefully for the freedom of their people. Her party is not a terrorist organization, they are fighting against an atrocity recognized by successive human rights groups and top international courts.

Bisan Owda deserves to be honored for her brave work, not reviled. We need to affirm her Emmy nomination and additionally strive to acknowledge the critical and devastating issue she is tirelessly working to highlight. Please sign this petition in the spirit of fairness, justice, and human rights, and stand with Bisan Owda against this unwarranted smear campaign.