A new song by Roger Waters: SUMUD means “steadfast perseverence, particularly in resistance to the occupation of your homeland.”
Editor’s Note:
Here in Minnesota (a homeland within the homeland of America) we are also practicing a form of steadfast perseverence. It is characterized by continued protest around the genocide in Palestine, calling for the state to divest its holdings in Israeli companies to regular street protests and marches and bannerings, at minimum once a week but often more.
Although there has been intense resistance around Palestine regularly since October 7, 2023, another form of steadfast perseverence is taking place in protests against ICE: Now since Trump’s targeting of the large Minneapolis population of Somali people, a support movement that is characterized by steadfast resistance by all organizations that work for peace and justice, including religious groups as well as street protests and other nonprofits. The Twin Cities, and to some extent all of Minnesota, is home to a large Hispanic population as well. Weekly protests against ICE and immigration policies and other creative protests occur regularly.
On Saturday, December 20, 2025 15,000 people marched on Lake Street in the center of Minneapolis on a cold and windy day to protest ICE and in support of Minnesota’s Somali community as well as other targeted peoples.
Every day resistance continues and will continue in one form or another of creative and steadfast perseverence.
Thank you Roger for your steadfast defiance and for giving us this phrase in your wonderful song about what is necessary and about what we need to continue to do in practicing steadfast perseverence.
Roger Waters is the cofounder of Pink Floyd. He is known worldwide for not only his music, but his work for justice and peace. He won the Artistic War Abolisher of 2025 Award from World Beyond War for his “incredibly powerful combination of songwriting, singing, speaking and performing against the horrors of war,” in the words of David Swanson, World Beyond War executive director.
Because of his activism he has had many of his live concerts cancelled in Europe and elsewhere and attacks on his work, but he wonderfully and steadfastly perseveres.
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