On Thursday, December 28, the newly formed organization Doctors Against Genocide (DAG) had plans to demonstrate at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, to protest Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, calling it a “genocide.” The event has since been canceled.
Important announcement regarding our action!We made a decision to cancel the event. We will be announcing future events with more detailed communication.As Doctors Against Genocide, we want to reemphasize our stance against all hate in all forms.#neveragainforall pic.twitter.com/XjmTO4mQoq
— Doctors Against Genocide (@docstopgenocide) December 26, 2023
The group called on anti-Israel activists to obtain free entry tickets to the museum so they could protest inside and disrupt the museum’s activity. At 3 p.m., the protesters are scheduled to move the protest to the White House.
In a statement announcing the cancelation of the event, DAG stated that the goal of the event was to "visit the Holocaust Museum to express our empathy for the horrors of that Genocide. Additionally, we wanted to bring awareness to the ongoing Genocide in Gaza."
Important announcement regarding our action!We made a decision to cancel the event. We will be announcing future events with more detailed communication.As Doctors Against Genocide, we want to reemphasize our stance against all hate in all forms.#neveragainforall pic.twitter.com/XjmTO4mQoq
— Doctors Against Genocide (@docstopgenocide) December 26, 2023
DAG describes itself as “a coalition of healthcare professionals who want to unite their voices in uproar against the genocide in Gaza.” The group was formed in November 2023 and focuses solely on the Hamas-Israel War, in spite of its name saying it is generally against genocide.
Affiliations of DAG
According to its website, DAG is a program of “Jetpac,” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit seeking “to build a strong American Muslim political infrastructure and increase [its] community’s influence and engagement.”
According to the Washington DC-based newspaper Roll Call, one of the founding members of DAG is Nidal Jboor, a physician from Michigan.
DAG’s website features a toolkit advising activists how to meet and lobby their congressmen to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. This toolkit provides talking points, as well as a WhatsApp group to connect with other Healthcare workers supporting this organization. It also provides a hyperlink to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs data page through the phrase “Share facts on what’s happening in Gaza.”
On December 7, DAG held a press conference outside the US Capitol with House Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Cori Bush (D-MO), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and speakers from DAG calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
DAG has co-organized protests in December with anti-Israel organizations Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), IfNotNow (INN), and CODEPINK.
Doctors Against Genocide responds to accusations
"We had recently announced a planned visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum as a way to educate and engage the medical community. We wanted to learn from the Museum’s initiatives in genocide education and prevention to inform our own efforts as an organization dedicated to preventing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide around the world," a statement from the organization read.
"We are fully aligned with and inspired by the Museum’s statement that “the Holocaust was preventable and that by heeding warning signs and taking early action, individuals and governments can save lives”. As Doctors Against Genocide, we heed this call and are working to prevent genocide, the loss of innocent lives and the lifelong trauma of the survivors."It was not our aim to protest inside or outside the museum, nor is it our intent to minimize the important work done by the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We are deeply affected by the horrors of the Holocaust and are moved to prevent similar atrocities," the statement added.