This story is part of our “Reasons to Love Houston” package, published in the Spring 2025 issue.

One of the many things we appreciate about Houstonians is the fire in their belly. People are engaged in their city, and some have even taken to letting it all out during public comment at city council meetings. Antasia Adamjee, an organizer with Houston for Palestinian Liberation, has made her voice a staple of pro-Palestine advocacy at city hall. We spoke with her about her experiences.

How did you get involved with Houston for Palestinian Liberation (HPL)?

A friend of mine in California saw that someone had gone to their city council and spoke on the plight of Palestinians. She shared the video with a couple of friends here in Houston, and one went to city council—there were three people there that day. They organically got onto social media and asked to have people join them. The next week, I went, and it’s an intimidating environment. In the beginning, it was awareness, because how could anyone possibly sign off on foreign money being used to fund any type of horrific actions happening in another country? We very quickly realized that there was a blind eye being turned to it. [HPL] was just a group of people who had a call for the same thing, which was [to] stop funding genocide.

What was your experience speaking at city council for the first time?

My main focus was highlighting what was going on. I mainly spoke about the destruction that was happening. There was no food, no water, no shelter, people are being displaced. Here I am, just a normal citizen going up to talk about what I think is important for other people to hear. A normal person who doesn’t know enough about the legal jargon or city laws. If I can go up there and speak on behalf of people who don’t have a voice overseas, or for others who are afraid to speak up, then let me not focus on my fears.

What are your specific demands from city council?

First, we wanted a call for a ceasefire, and we weren’t getting that at all. Our citizens in Houston have family in Palestine that are being affected. We eventually got five city councilmembers to join our side. Then it went over to divestment, and the divestment didn’t work.

How do you feel about the progress HPL has made?

Progress is going to take a long time. I feel like there has been a community that’s been built. When I was 13 and going to Palestinian protests, I looked around and it was usually people who looked like me. But then when I went to the city council protest in late October or November, that was one of the first times I looked around and it was so diverse. I saw people who looked like me, people who were white, African American, Asian—every type of race present. Everyone’s eyes are opening up and seeing what’s going on. That’s been beautiful to see. With the work that’s been done, sometimes it feels stagnant. Sometimes it feels like it’s pulling teeth. It takes so many years and so much time to actually see any type of change, but we’re trying to do that brick by brick.

Is there anything else you want people to know?

It feels like a needle in a haystack when you’re out there on your own, trying to make change happen. It can feel so small and insignificant. And there are so many times that will feel stagnant, but you look back at huge historical movements in the US that took years and years. There’s different ways to be part of the movement, whether that’s talking about it, posting about it, showing 
up, or even just saying a prayer. I want people to feel emboldened to do that versus, “I’m just one person I can’t make a change.” You can. We just have to do it together.