Alt Text: Woman standing in front of bulldozer wearing orange jacket and carrying bullhorn

An original visual artwork by Ruha Nasheeta

Translator’s Note:

This original piece was inspired by photographs^[1],[2] from activist Rachel Corrie’s final day on earth. It was created using generative AI and other tools built into Canva, Picsart, and Pencil Photo Sketch.

The title of the work comes from the alt text that was automatically generated when the bulldozer drawing, initially including a depiction of Corrie, was first uploaded into the editing software, shown below.

[1] https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/american-peace-activist-rachel-corrie-tries-to-stop-an-news-photo/1852649
[2] https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/american-peace-activist-rachel-corrie-shouts-as-she-burns-a-news-photo/2700286

Rachel Corrie was an American peace activist who organized with the International Solidarity Movement. She was murdered in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip on March 16, 2003 when the IDF operator of a Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer ran her down. Using an established method of civil disobedience to stop the unlawful destruction of Palestinian neighborhoods, Corrie stood in front of Rafah resident Samir Nasrallah’s home, slated for demolition that day, in the path of the bulldozer. The IDF operator ignored her, crushing her and ending her life. An Israeli investigation later determined that the bulldozer operator had limited visibility, and her death was ruled an accident. Amnesty International deemed the investigation unsound and condemned the ruling.^[3]

[3] https://web.archive.org/web/20120902041711/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/rachel-corrie-verdict-highlights-impunity-israeli-military-2012-08-28

Ruha Nasheeta has the soul of an activist, the heart of a rebel, the mind of a dreamer. She is haunted by ghosts of brave women who pass before her. She is moved by them.