Professional skateboarder Raven Tershy has used his platform to draw attention to the long-standing Israeli–Palestinian conflict and advocate for the rights and resilience of the Palestinian people.
The Lebanese-Irish American skater is making it clear that he is willing to lose friends and followers in order to speak out about what he believes is a critical issue.
Tershy began by addressing what he sees as a double standard in how Western media and society react to global conflicts.
He asserted that the tragedies of war are only highlighted when they affect white people and that there has been a lack of attention and care for the suffering endured by Palestinians for the past 75 years.
He emphasized that brutal killings, rapes, and beatings have been a daily life for Palestinians with little global attention or intervention.
While Tershy does not advocate for violence or death, he argues that when people feel abandoned and their lives are constantly at risk while their land is being taken, they may feel compelled to seek help from any available source.
He acknowledges that groups like Hamas, often seen as radical by some, have played a role in the Palestinian liberation struggle. Tershy points out that peaceful protests, though significant, can only achieve so much when faced with entrenched conflict.
The skateboarder compared American military actions worldwide, suggesting Western audiences may not respond similarly to non-white populations suffering in conflicts.
He argues that war is ugly on every side but that Palestinians are determined to remain on their land.
Tershy believes Palestinians are not going anywhere and will either continue to endure hardships or work towards reclaiming their land.