猫咪社区

After police shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., on August 9, the city’s population rose up in protest. The police responded with an , including .

More than 100 Palestinians and 16 supporting organizations have signed a statement of solidarity with the people of Ferguson.

That violence has led to a massive outpouring of support for the protesters from across the United States. On August 14, vigils occurred nationwide as a part of a National Moment of Silence, .

But there were also messages of support, solidarity, and guidance that came in from more than 6,000 miles away. As social media lit up with images from Ferguson, Palestinian Twitter users offered advice on dealing with the effects of tear gas.

Some focused in on practical tips:

Solidarity with . Remember to not touch your face when teargassed or put water on it. Instead use milk or coke!

— مريم البرغوثي (@MariamBarghouti)

Don’t Keep much distance from the Police, if you’re close to them they can’t tear Gas. To from

— Rajai abuKhalilرجائي (@Rajaiabukhalil)

Always make sure to run against the wind /to keep calm when you’re teargassed, the pain will pass, don’t rub your eyes! Solidarity

— مريم البرغوثي (@MariamBarghouti)

Others tweeted out messages of solidarity, emphasizing the connections between the oppression of Americans in Ferguson with that of Palestinians under Israeli occupation:

Hamde Abu tells that knows what it means to be shot for your ethnicity

— Rana Nazzal (@zaytouni_rana)

The oppressed stands with the oppressed. stands with .

— فلسطين i (@iFalasteen)

In addition, as the website Electronic Intifada on August 15, more than 100 Palestinians and 16 supporting organizations have signed a with the people of Ferguson.

Mariam Barghouti is a Palestinian student and blogger currently residing in the West Bank, and was one of those tweeting the advice for dealing with tear gas. Reached via email, Barghouti told 猫咪社区 that “Just as Palestinians are dehumanized and vilified, the demonstrators in Ferguson are also facing a similar unjust narrative in the media.”

And it’s not just the narrative that’s similar. Barghouti also pointed out on Twitter that the same Pennsylvania-based company, Combined Tactical Systems, whose tear gas and other crowd control products are used in the West Bank (most recently at a ), are now being used in Ferguson.

Made in USA teargas canister was shot at us a few days ago in by Israel, now they are used in .

— مريم البرغوثي (@MariamBarghouti)

Photos of expired canisters found in Ferguson and shared on social media that bear Combined Tactical Systems’ name and address lend support to the theory.

Went up to before heading to the office. Picked up canisters of flashbangs, smoke bombs and rubber bullets.

— Brian Heffernan (@BrianHeff)

The Guardian’s Jon Swaine tweeted a photo of an undetonated “mini bang” tactical grenade found in Ferguson, which was made by Combined Tactical Systems:

Found what seems to be an undetonated “mini bang” cracker on W Florissant

— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine)

Multimedia journalist Joanne Stocker () and activist Robin Jacks ( ) have been compiling photos of the tear gas and other weaponry used in Ferguson, documenting the models and manufacturers on a , as well as noting deaths due to tear gas worldwide.

For Barghouti, the similarities between Palestinians and the people of Ferguson go far beyond tear gas canisters. “The very tactics used by the Israeli military in the suppression of Palestinian resistance are being applied by the militarized American police,” she said, adding that “injustice has a similar pattern regardless of geographical location.”