Transcript
Speaker: The genocide that is happening in Gaza is simply evil in our world. I can't deny what I've seen and say it's not my problem. It is my problem because it is everyone's problem. It is humankind's problem. It is a stain on humanity. You spoke up about what you saw as a member of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but I want to hear about what you experienced as a result of speaking up. The direct backlash from speaking out was death threats, attempts to smear my reputation, and that was not something that I expected. But then I realized there's more to this. It's all part of a longer, enduring, and greater plan. How do you deal with that? Well, it's simply a matter of principle and commitment to what is right. Seeing what I witnessed in Gaza with my own eyes, there's no amount of arguments that can dissuade me from what I saw. What's your advice for others who may know something, but they're afraid? If you've seen something that you know is wrong and it keeps you up at night, you need to say something. If you're willing to sacrifice your character for your reputation, that will bother you in your life.
Speaker: Bismillah alhamdulillah wassalatu wassalamu alaikum. May peace be upon you. Thank you everyone for joining today's episode of Care On Air, Beyond the Courtroom and Behind the Headlines. I'm your host today, Edward Ahmed Mitchell. Good good to have you with us.
Speaker: ah Many of you know the name Anthony Aguilar. This is a former member of the US military who, as many of you know, served in the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as one of their security personnel during the genocide in Gaza.
Speaker: Now, you all may also know that at the time that the Trump administration established the GHF, they claimed that this was a way to get humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people and avoid aid falling into the hands of militant organizations.
Speaker: The reality, as we heard from former Lieutenant ah Colonel Aguilar and others, is that the GHF was just a smokescreen cover ah for the Israeli government to continue to starve the people of Gaza and kill the people of Gaza when they tried to get humanitarian aid.
Speaker: We know this because people like Mr. Aguilar spoke up. about what happened, about what they saw, about what they experienced. So Anthony has spoken about this you know many times over the past year or so, extensive speeches, interviews. Today, we want to discuss something a little different. We want to discuss what it's like when you're an American and you speak up about this issue. When you tell the truth about what's happening in Palestine, what do you experience in response? What's the backlash from the the anti-Palestinian lobby, from anti-Palestinian politicians? um And how do you deal with that? How do you persevere through that and continue to speak the truth about human rights, about justice? So, you know, I can think of no one who is better placed to tell us about that experience and what we can all learn from it
Speaker: then Lieutenant ah Colonel Aguilar, and we're happy to have him here with us today. ah Mr. Aguilar, thank you so much for joining us. First, how are you doing? How are you holding up? how have you been? I'm doing well, thank you. Been doing doing well and and continuing to speak out for Palestine, for humanity, for human rights, and bringing attention to what continues in Gaza and the West Bank and obviously what we're now seeing in Lebanon. And now as of last night and yesterday, you know moving further, IDF moving further into Syria, we will simply see a continuation of what we have all witnessed that's happening in Gaza that is now happening in other in other countries that border Israel.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, it's remarkable. It's still going on all these years later. i mean, all these decades later, be frank. But Anthony, Aguilar, let me ask you this. You spoke up about what you saw as a member of the Ghazi Humanitarian Foundation, one of their security personnel, the mass shootings that you saw, the people being killed while trying to get aid. And when you spoke up, this was at a time when it still wasn't easy.
Speaker: to speak up about Gaza. You know, for people here in America, college students, activists, but for someone who is a former member of the military who served in GHF to speak up, you know, that was so important to the movement because it really ah validated what we were all seeing on our TV screens, on social media. um And also it it was a sign of strength um that you emitted that I think was inspiring to other people. If someone who's a former member of the military who actually went to Gaza, served in GHF, could speak up knowing all the risks that would entail, then why why aren't others speaking up? So what you did was really important. It was a real turning point, I think, in the public consciousness and the debate about the Gaza genocide.
Speaker: Now, because you spoke up, ah you faced a backlash, ah predictably, from the anti-Palestinian lobby, from anti-Muslim extremists, from others who wanted to hide the truth about the Gaza genocide. Can you tell us, you know, what did you experience? And it could be the the good and the bad, but I definitely want to hear about what you experienced as a result of speaking up last year.
Speaker: So the direct backlash from speaking out was death threats, attempts to smear my reputation, to to to denigrate and degrade me personally and professionally.
Speaker: And that was not something that I that i expected. Simply, I felt that I was speaking on the the principle of truth, that that what was happening in Gaza ah was was something that the world needed to know, that Americans, especially since we fund and back most of it,
Speaker: needed to be woken up to. I didn't see it as in terms of ah of ah of a political position or of a of a pro this or anti anti whatever type of position. I felt that it was it was for the sake of humanity, for the sake of what is right, for the sake of international law, for the sake of um values, human values. And when I started to get backlash for that by simply speaking out to what was the truth, what was what was observed in not only um from others and other witnesses that have come forward before me, ah but what was also provided in in evidence of videos and photos. And I felt you know this is simply the truth as it as it stands, as it is in reality.
Speaker: um so I wasn't necessarily I was expecting um that perhaps there would be disagreement with. Well, that's, you know, the the the indiscriminate shooting of of women and children and the displacement and the starvation.
Speaker: um i expected arguments of, well, that's taken out of context, et cetera. ah to to the arguments of, um well, you're a horrible person and you're a traitor and you're a ah you're a disgrace for so you know for for bringing these things to light.
Speaker: ah That I didn't expect. But then when that did come, I realized that there's There's more to this. There's more that's being hidden. there's more There's more to the story that even I understood.
Speaker: And as I began to continue to speak out and continue to face the backlash and continue to face ah various entities, agencies, individuals and groups coming out against me, I started to weave that tapestry of hate together to realize that that this is this is all part of a this is all part of a grander plan. This attacking me and attacking others who speak out against the atrocities, against the genocide, against the starvation, against the the dehumanization of what's happening in Gaza to Palestinians is all part of a longer, enduring, and greater plan. i'm just now i' I am um simply now just a a part of that.
Speaker: ah in speaking out and having eyewitnessed the truth of what's on the ground. but you know Having a vast military experience to bring that knowledge to bear and witnessing it with my own eyes.
Speaker: you know I'm not necessarily a a commentator on it from afar or someone that read something that's making an opinion. i i was there and I saw it and I have a comparative lens to 25 years of of combat and war to compare what's happening in Gaza to the rest of what I've seen in this world to know that it is absolutely genocide. It is absolutely crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Speaker: And um in in the the attacks against me, not in the subject matter, but against me personally to try to quiet me or get rid of me, for lack of better terms, um simply revealed the the greater depth of the of the issue at hand here. And the issue at hand, the greater issue at hand is this is this is the extreme um of of Zionism, of attempting to erase Palestinian culture, ah to to take over all of Palestinian territory, to include Gaza and the West Bank.
Speaker: It's all part of ah of a greater plan ah that that is simply becoming more and more revealed ah because people are now speaking out. And that truth is becoming harder and harder to conceal.
Speaker: So where now we see that Israel has gone and the Zionist movement has gone to complete, um not even denying what's happening, but simply trying to attack and destroy those who dare speak out against it.
Speaker: So tell us this, Mr. Aguilar, how do you deal with that? Because i think college students obviously protest the genocide, you know faced all sorts of of consequences from being brutalized by the police, by pro-Israel ah mobs on college campuses,
Speaker: Having job offers pulled, being kicked out of their schools, having to move to other schools to finish their degrees. Politicians to speak up sometimes, you know, lose office because APAC or some other entity will come in and swamp their small district with millions of outside spending, cause them to lose their election. For someone like you, you know, former military you military veteran,
Speaker: um You worked in security. um You know, how did you ah respond to this? How did you persevere through it? Do you just have to ignore the noise, keep doing what you're doing? Do you do you debate the attacks? Do you kind of rebut them? Like what strategies do you find were helpful or not helpful in responding to the attacks when they come? Because I think others could benefit from learning how to deal with this what if it happens to them, if they speak up.
Speaker: Well, it's simpler and simply a matter of of principle and commitment to to what is right based on an individual's values and beliefs. And in my case, seeing what I witnessed in Gaza, what I witnessed with my own eyes, what I saw is is something that that can never be denied.
Speaker: ah It's something that I will never ah be swayed from from believing to be true because I saw it. I was there. I witnessed the aspects of it. I witnessed it firsthand.
Speaker: So there is there's no amount of ah argument that can dissuade me from what I saw. um And when you're faced with with truth and faced with the reality of truth,
Speaker: the the consequences may be um may be immeasurable in terms of ah direct threats, threats to livelihood, your job, your reputation, ah death threats, smearing,
Speaker: um ah you know the the the whole litany of of of the onslaught of of resistance against the truth. And that's something that's very difficult. And um you know i had i had, I guess I would say that that i had I had choices.
Speaker: I could have I could have saw you know what I had saw in Gaza, I could have just stayed quiet and I could have just decided, well, this isn't my problem.
Speaker: this isn't This isn't my concern. This is not something that's ever going to affect me other than the right here, right now. And I can just ah ignore this, look the other way, make make a lot of money being a contractor and just and just ah disregard what's happening.
Speaker: um Other people that have come out have been destroyed by this, so why would I want to put myself in that position? It's not my problem. I could have chose that path. I could have chose the path of when I came out and spoke against it, and there was the immediate backlash and hate and and online threats and and and threats directly against my my reputation that I could have just walked away from it.
Speaker: But in my case, and this is a choice that every individual has to make, is is what is your truth worth and what is your character worth and what is your what are your values and what really matters in life?
Speaker: For me, I know that the things that matter most in life, my family, are very much still here with me by my side and very supportive. I, I, so I still am blessed to have what I need in life to, to continue to survive.
Speaker: ah Did it, was there a lot of cost in speaking out in terms of, you know, fuck financial, materialistic, et cetera? Yes, but none of those things matter when compared to your own integrity and your own values.
Speaker: And at the end of one's life, when you have to ah you know face your maker and look at what you've done in life, were you willing to say that ah you you turned your back on the truth against crimes against humanity, against women and children being slaughtered over over simple means of your own reputation or or your your profession or your job, all things that are very important in this world, ah but pale in comparison to the reality of speaking out against something that is inherently and purely evil?
Speaker: And that's, you know, the the genocide that is happening in Gaza is simply one aspect of that evil in our world. It is certainly not the only case, but it is a case that is very prevalent. And in my case, it's a case that i witnessed and saw with my own eyes on the ground.
Speaker: It's something that in my in my in my personal experience, I can't deny what I've seen. i can't um I can't um turn my back to it and say, well,
Speaker: um You know, it's it's who am I to say what happened there or not? It's not my problem. um it It is my problem because it is everyone's problem. It is it is that it is humankind's problem. And I'm convinced and motivated by the fact that ah what what is happening right now in Gaza, what is happening to Palestinians, what is happening ah in in Gaza and in the West Bank is not ah simply a a one off. It's not simply something that ah that ends there.
Speaker: This is indicative of a larger problem that that if the world doesn't stand up to disavow ah to to stop what is happening. ah it It will not only continue, but it will it will spread.
Speaker: it is It is not only the the slaughter and the genocide of Palestinians, it is an affront to mankind. It is a stain on humanity. It is a threat to all um to all of of human dignity and and humanity in terms of of the value of ah of a human being.
Speaker: And that's something that doesn't end at the border of Gaza or the, you know, on the on the the borders of the West Bank that that spreads. And so that's why I'm speaking out because I care about the future generations. I care about my my children, my grandchildren one day and the next generations from not living in a world where this type of behavior on behalf of the the the Zionists against Palestinians, ah that that type of behavior isn't normalized.
Speaker: ah to where anybody could be the next victim. So it does the speaking out is very costly um in terms of of what we know in this world, the ah the the all of the things that are materialistic and all the things that are ah that are very temporary. that it's very costly, but in terms of, um, what's really valuable in life and the, and what really matters in life, um, there, there is no comparison to the value in speaking the truth and for standing up against humanity and for human beings, especially when you consider, you know, the, the, the slaughter and the, the starvation of, of young children.
Speaker: It's something that, that simply cannot, can, can never be accepted nor normalized. Yeah. and And yet it it is, sadly, still by too many people. So, Mr. Aguilar, so you have continued to speak out um since, you know, last year. um Obviously, you're you're very well versed now in the subject matter. What are you doing now? Like, what have you been doing? I think you've been engaged in activism, politics. Tell us about, you know, what you've done, how you have, you know, tried to move beyond just telling your story, but also to try to make change in our country. Tell us about your, you know, recent activities and experiences, what you're up to now.
Speaker: Well, I continue to be ah i' an activist. I continue to speak with Palestinians, not for. I do not consider myself a voice for Palestinians.
Speaker: Palestinians have a voice. Palestinians have agency. Palestine does exist. ah Palestinians have been speaking up and resisting. I am simply a voice with Palestinians to amplify that message and to bring truth to what's happening um because of ah of a population that's been dehumanized and disregarded.
Speaker: ah But the Palestinian voice is their voice, and I simply speak with them. And in that activism, in my continued activism, I've continued to plead to our to our to our leaders in our government and in the U.S. Congress, senators and representatives ah to to push legislation for, for example, blocking the bombs, meaning offensive munitions going to Israel, of which are used in Gaza and now being used in Lebanon and in Syria.
Speaker: and i And I've asked legislation for allowing the unrestricted aid that you know into Gaza, this UN resolution that Donald Trump pushed, UN 2803, this quote unquote Gaza peace deal.
Speaker: um where the unrestricted aid was supposed to be allowed into Gaza ah has not happened. That is still not happening. UN n resolution 2803 is a farce. It is a lie.
Speaker: ah The Board of Peace is another layer of subterfuge to lie to the world about the truth of what's happening in Gaza. In Gaza to this day, as of today, right now, bombs are still being dropped.
Speaker: Children are still being targeted. the The aid is still being restricted. So I've been going to Congress to highlight and fight that. And then i this January, a few months ago, I came to the conclusion that you know ah the the members of our Congress aren't going to address this or do anything about it.
Speaker: ah because the majority of the US Congress are compromised by foreign influence, by quite specifically Zionist lobbyist influence like AIPAC and other um political action committees and lobbyists and special interest groups ah that that buy off American politicians to either ignore what's happening or to believe the lies and the rhetoric and the narrative of hate.
Speaker: And I've come to the conclusion that the only way that we're going to address that here in America, to where we we we say no to the continuation of being complicit and hand in glove with Israel in a genocide, ah is that we have to have we have to have new Congress. We have to have new members of Congress because the vast majority, over 90%, over 95% of the members of our Congress, Democrat and Republicans,
Speaker: are either bought off by APAC or they're in positions to where ah they they get targeted by APAC. A classic example in our in our modern time would be Thomas Masson.
Speaker: you know Thomas Massey ah was defeated in the Kentucky 4th District in his reelection run for representative to the Kentucky 4th District in the U.S. Congress, um specifically because of his outspoken stance on Israel and AIPAC lobbied against him to support his opponent with over $20 million dollars in that campaign to unseat Thomas Massey.
Speaker: And what people need to remember is that Thomas Massey was a six-time incumbent. He served in the Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years. This was his seventh run of which he's always been elected.
Speaker: And now in this year, when he has been outspoken against Israel, against the the genocide, against continuing to provide money and political cover and bombs to the Zionist regime to continue the genocide, he he spoke out simply against wrong.
Speaker: And the AIPAC lobby um formed against him in in in in vast numbers and outspent his campaign you know by $20 million dollars to his opponent, who, by the way, has never run for Congress and has never run an election. So when you look at...
Speaker: um that It's simply the the truth of American governance now an american in the US Congress, both in the Senate and in the House, ah that the the foreign interests specifically, not only, but specifically of a Zionist agenda,
Speaker: has has completely infiltrated, compromised, and bought our Congress. So we need members of Congress that don't take money from AIPAC, that don't take money from special interest groups, that don't take money from lobbyists or or any type of mega donors like a Miriam Adelson, et cetera.
Speaker: So i i I made the decision that I'm running for Congress in my district, North Carolina District 13. I'm running for U.S. Congress. ah on a platform of as an independent and that I will not accept any donations or money from any political action committee, any at all, not just a pack, but any political action committee, any lobbyist, any special interest groups, any mega donors, any, any um super PAC source packs at all.
Speaker: None. I will only accept support from individual small donors simply to support the ah the actual mechanics of the campaign. Nothing more, nothing less.
Speaker: And I want to go to Congress to represent ah the American people and American values and not be bought off or or convinced to represent evil. because of how I profit from it, like we see the majority of members of Congress, to include the incumbent Republican that I'm running against, um very a big receiver of AIPAC money. He takes a lot of money from AIPAC, and he's an Israel first candidate. So ah that's what we're up against, and that's why I'm running for Congress.
Speaker: Well, Anthony, you know, I know it's been well over a year since you were in Gaza and saw those mass murders. I had to make the choice when you came back to speak up at great risk to yourself.
Speaker: Personally and professionally, I want to thank you for doing that. Thank you for standing in solidarity with people facing oppression and injustice. um It's not easy to do. There are consequences for doing it. um Last question to you, and then we'll we'll let you go, is you know, what's your advice for others who who may know something? They've seen something in Gaza. They've seen a an elected official do something behind the scenes, and they're thinking about speaking up. They're thinking about speaking truth.
Speaker: but they're afraid. They're afraid that what you experience will happen to them. you know What's your advice for someone who is in that position of of they can say something, they could do something to help by sharing the truth, ah but they're a little afraid. What's your advice for them?
Speaker: Speaking out is difficult because of the consequences levied by the lies and the manipulation of information and the propaganda.
Speaker: um and i And I assure everyone that that that lie and manipulation and propaganda is fleeting. It is not permanent. And the truth is.
Speaker: And if you've seen something that you know is wrong and you feel compelled to say something, and it keeps you up at night, you need to say something.
Speaker: And the consequences may be, maybe you lose followership on social media or ah you're you're smeared and your reputation is is is is challenged.
Speaker: And all of those things are are true and real. it It likely will happen. There will be consequences. But the consequences of not speaking the truth or not speaking your truth as to you see something that is inherently wrong um is the the consequences of of of that are far greater ah than anything temporary in terms of your reputation or social media or e etc. And you know your your reputation is simply what other people think of you.
Speaker: Your character is what you think of yourself. And if you're willing to sacrifice your character for your reputation, that will bother you in your life. And it may not today and it may not tomorrow, but in time it will.
Speaker: And having ah having a clear conscience of right is far more valuable than any amount of money or any materialistic things or any online reputation or number of followers.
Speaker: ah so So, for me to say that speaking out is all sunshines and sunshine and rainbows and it'll just you know the the the feeling of intrinsic value you get makes it all worth it, ah that would be disingenuous.
Speaker: There are consequences and it hurts. It's painful. you know i served this military I served this country for 25 years in uniform. Four wars, 12 combat deployments, wounded in combat, served this nation.
Speaker: and The moment I came out to say that there's a genocide happening, based on the rules and values and international laws that I was taught as a military officer.
Speaker: that you know like that' That's a violation of the Geneva Convention. Violations of the Geneva Convention are war crimes. Systematic war crimes against a peoples in order to eliminate that population from the earth, that's a genocide.
Speaker: Those are all definitions and lessons that I was taught while serving in the military. And yet when I came out to speak against what's happening based on something that I saw with my own eyes, our own country.
Speaker: All of a sudden, I'm a traitor. I'm a terrorist. I support ah the the other side, so to speak. And that hurts.
Speaker: But The truth is still the truth. And you know I can't speak to what anyone's individual situation may be, but I can tell you that if you see something that's wrong ah that that you have to speak out against, realize that there will be consequences in terms of the temporary, in terms of the the superficial, but the value in doing so ah will be immense in terms of your own character and your own soul.
Speaker: And realize that the truth always, always comes out. Look at this now, like, you know, little more than a year ago, um people people still said, oh, you're you're a liar. That's not happening in Gaza.
Speaker: You're just a spokesman for Hamas. You're a terrorist. You're just an activist sympathizer. You're un-American. Um, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And now, now look at where the world is in terms of what we're seeing to where that narrative has almost entirely shifted.
Speaker: And, uh, I can look at that and say, no, that, well, that's, that's always been the truth. And those of us that have been willing to speak out against it have helped bring that truth to light.
Speaker: So in speaking out, I won't sugarcoat it and say that it's great. There's consequence and it hurts. But in the overall picture, and in terms of um values in life or who you are as a person, um it's there's no other choice.
Speaker: Thank you, Anthony. You may not know this. You probably heard before at this point, but there's a saying and in the Islamic faith that the prophet Muhammad once said that if you see something wrong and you can change it with your hands, if you can't do that, try to change it with your speech. If you can't do that, at least hate the wrongful thing in your heart.
Speaker: And that's the weakest expression of of faith. yes you know We thank you again for speaking up, um which is a powerful expression. of a faith in justice, a faith in righteousness. And you know we can't say thank you enough. and And I'm sure the Palestinian people and other Americans, and I mean, the American people appreciate it as well because you helped educate us about what was happening there. So we thank you again, Mr. Aguilar.
Speaker: Thank you so much. And I very much appreciate it. And um I hope everyone is well. And in the CARE community, i i've I'm always appreciative for for everything that you all do.
Speaker: Thank you. Thank you, Anthony. let's so Let's keep in touch, God willing. And we appreciate your time. And we look forward to seeing you again with hopefully some positive news and more progress to share in the struggle for human rights, for a just American, and a just American foreign policy.
Speaker: But thank you so much, Anthony. We'll see you next time. Thank you. And thank you all for watching today's episode of Care On Air. We greatly appreciate your time and attention. We'll see you next week, a God willing, inshallah. Until then, assalamu alaikum.
Speaker: May peace be upon you.
