Palestinian identity highlighted in bold Times Square ad

A new ad campaign reclaiming Palestinian identity has appeared in Times Square, New York City, launched by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a US-based civil rights group founded in 1980 to protect the rights of Arab Americans.

The billboard features a powerful excerpt from Mahmoud Darwish’s 1964 poem The Passport:

“Stripped of my name and identity? On a soil I nourished with my own hands?...
All the hearts of the people are my identity. So take away my passport!”
Alongside the verse, the message reads: “Palestine belongs to Palestinians.”

In a caption shared on social media, the organization added:
“For Palestinians, identity has never been defined by documents. It lives in memory, resistance, and community. No border, occupation, or ban can erase that.”

The ad, placed in one of the world’s most prominent public spaces, comes amid growing crackdowns on pro-Palestinian advocacy in the US, where many Arab-American groups are facing pressure for speaking out.

Supporters have praised the campaign for centering Palestinian identity and history at a time when both are increasingly contested in public discourse.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which describes itself as “truly Arab, fully American,” says the campaign is part of its broader effort to defend free expression and uplift Arab voices nationwide.