Fun Runs and Torah Study, Omaha Organizes for Palestine

The Missouri river creeps along, moving quietly but not silently as the sun starts to break across the Iowa-Nebraska line. An early morning boat cuts its way across the water as cyclists start to flow along the edge’s trails, funneling from connecting arteries into downtown Omaha.

Passing through Heartland of America Park on this cool morning, a relief after weeks of sweltering hot, they pass a small group of volunteers erecting tables and tents. Banners are strung between poles as a flag is stretched between two trees.

The energy is already high, day-of enthusiasm and months of preparation colliding as the dozen people prepare the infrastructure for the hundreds on their way. A wagon with speakers piled high is wheeled through the maze of extra water bottles, t-shirts, and art supplies being prepared and laid out on tables. Morning greetings are exchanged ahead of swapping shared expectations for the day.

In support of liberation, for peace and dignity, for the Palestinian people more than two hundred Nebraskans were gathering to raise funds for pediatric health care. While the Heartland continues to rally, raising their voices and marching silently to end the forced famine in Gaza, today’s event was rallying support through competition.

Organized in coordination with Ohio-founded HEAL Palestine, this midwest waterfront park was hosting a 5k and fun run named for Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl who the IDF publicly killed alongside the paramedics saving her life following a previous by Israeli forces. In the first attack, 335 bullets were fired from a tank at the car occupied by children, while Hind’s 15-year-old sister called for help on the phone. Hind was the only one to survive, only to be killed when help arrived.

To remember Hind, and to raise direct aid for children like her who are experiencing the occupation, today’s 5k offered an opportunity to educate and advocate without confrontation. Collaborators from local organizations offered their individual expertises to provide medical training and care, production equipment and entertainment.

Registrants sign in for the Hind’s 5k race in Heart of American Park in Omaha, Nebraska. The event, named for a 5-year-old girl killed by Israel was held to raise funds for pediatric medical care in Palestine. (Photo by Vince Chandler / Yellow Scene Magazine)

After registering and receiving your official race bib, you walked the path through the park past mutual aid organizers and representatives from HEAL Palestine. Nearing the starting line brings a wave of pregame jitters, that nervous anticipation athletes permeate as they prepare for their event. Families with newborns in their jogging strollers, teens taking selfies in their friend groups, millennials stretching and warming up (because they came to win).

A snack table laden with BDS approved goodies and water opened up to where the speakers stood, the first starting to tap the microphone. Kayla, the day’s emcee and event organizer, takes a moment to remind everyone of what brought everyone together today before a moment of silence in remembrance of Hind and the children of Palestine.

“To carry her memory, to honor her life, and to stand for the right of every Palestinian child to be safe and free.”

The evening before, a group gathered for a seder dinner to discuss. In the basement of a Lutheran church, a sign of interfaith cooperation in Omaha, Jewish Voices for Peace were preparing for shabbat blessings. Scout, a Gen Z leader in local organizing, looked out at the group gathered around the large table before he began reading from Deuteronomy.

In solidarity with those experiencing famine in Occupied Palestine, there would be no meal served at tonight’s supper. Nebraskans for Palestine successfully raised $10,000 for mutual aid kitchens in the West Bank and Gaza during a hunger strike in coordination with JVP members earlier this month.

Cat King, a Jewish organizer in Omaha, contributes to the discussion about helping your neighbor during a seder dinner hosted by Jewish Voices for Peace in August 2025. (Photo by Vince Chandler / Yellow Scene Magazine)

As Scout concludes his reading, he repeats a line from 15:4 “there shall be no needy among you,” starting the evening’s discussion. Who is included in that needy amongst you, your immediate friends and family? Your clan? Everyone?

As day became night, ideas were traded in a thoughtful back and forth. Ping ponging in an overlapping across the table no voice went unheard. Children interrupted with questions which were addressed with intentional honesty, a forgotten clause was allowed space to return after the conversation had cycled past. More than one person produced a book to highlight their point or to resolve curiosity, this group knew they didn’t have every answer but worked together to progress toward one.

With the flow threatening hours more to talk about, a final time check accompanies a hurried end with eager asks for the next opportunity to gather. The next day’s 5k was mentioned, some needed the early bedtime knowing the sunrise start ahead. For those who belonged to the local temple, tips on continuing to stand by their principles while a community they love rejects them were exchanged.

“Zionism is antithetical to Judaism,” Scout told Yellow Scene while cleaning up the room. “There’s obviously the secular moral standpoint that what’s happening in Palestine is wrong, but from a religious and a Jewish standpoint it’s incredibly wrong. It’s antithetical to everything that we’re taught.”

Nurse Willy, who has worked with HEAL Palestine and served on medical missions to Gaza and the West Bank, walks amongst the crowd of 5k participants carrying his phone while video calling Wissam Hamada, Hind’s mother before the start of the 5k named for her departed daughter’s memory. (Photo by Vince Chandler / Yellow Scene Magazine)

At the next morning’s starting line, a roar rips through the gathered crowd. Nurse Willy, who has traveled for medical missions to Palestine, was walking through the runners holding a phone aloft. Wissam Hamada, Hind’s mother, was on a video call sharing the moment from across the world with those gathered to run in her daughter’s name.

With a countdown from the microphone, they were off. The soon-to-be-winners rocketed from the line toward the riverfront route, followed by not-taking-it-seriously students and families with fresh facepaint. Walkers, the elderly, some kids who refused to walk in anything but looping circles and their laughing adults sipping coffee made up the rear.

An hour later everyone was back in the park, their necks wearing medals for the finishers. Water and electrolytes flowed as they sweated in the still-sleepy city. For those who had energy to spare, Dabkeh lessons were offered and a circle of dancers swarmed the stage while others colored with chalk and played with bubbles. The line at the face paint station was always present, though no one waited long before walking away adorned.

The celebratory, relaxed mood set a tone of rest between the work to be done. While some headed out to their day’s social events, others scrolled social media looking for events to add to their calendars. Worry about the promise of National Guard troops coming and reflections on recent attacks on journalists punctuated plans for lunch. Labor Day is right around the corner and 50501 is planning a massive national day of action, plans were made to carry the day’s message with them into the new week.

Best known for capturing striking content from the frontlines of social movements, Heartland EMMY-nominated filmmaker and photographer Vince Chandler has spent 20 years creating art and documentary visuals across the U.S. They served as Communications Director for Denver City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, and Vince has earned national recognition for their work as a visual journalist for The Denver Post. Vince was the principal cinematographer for the feature documentary film Running With My Girls, which premiered at the 2021 Denver Film Festival.

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What does resistance & resilience look like in the Heartland of America?

Sometimes it’s a protest outside an ICE detention center. Sometimes it’s a rural nurse explaining how Medicaid cuts will shutter the town hospital. Sometimes, it’s a law professor teaching systemic racism at a University in a state where CRT is banned in public schools.

As Trump’s second term unfolds — and the One Big Beautiful Act guts healthcare, empowers ICE, and reshapes American life — independent journalism is more vital than ever. However, the national press rarely shows up in the places where policy has the most impact.

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These American Crossroads is a collaboration between Vince Chandler, Emmy-nominated visual journalist, and Yellow Scene Magazine, Boulder County’s only independent newsroom.

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