Event With The African-Jewish Alliance

Over the past two Sundays, I’ve been working with Simon Deng and the African-Jewish Alliance through L’dor Vador Studios. Alongside the talented Max Alperstein, I’ve been using photography and videography to shed light on Simon’s inspiring story and its relation to the ongoing hostage crisis in Israel.

Born in South Sudan, Simon was abducted at just nine years old and sold into slavery. For two years, he endured abuse before escaping with the help of members of his Shilluk tribe. In 1989, Simon came to the United States and dedicated his life to human rights activism. Today, Simon is a prominent voice in the fight against modern slavery, human trafficking, and injustice.

Recently, he has turned his attention to the ongoing hostage crisis in the Middle East. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants waged a deadly attack on Israel, killing more than a thousand people and abducting over 200 civilians, including children, women, and the elderly. As of now, 98 hostages remain captive in Gaza. The events of October 7th were nothing short of an atrocity. These are innocent civilians. Their lives are not collateral. Their stories must be told, and their freedom must be fought for.

That’s exactly what Simon is doing. Simon understands the horrors of captivity and the importance of fighting for freedom. Following the attacks, he traveled to Israel and marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in solidarity with the hostages and their families.

Now, Simon has come to New York to call attention to their plight and remind the world of its responsibility to act. From Times Square to Washington Square Park, Simon has been working hard to spread his message. He encourages passersby to stop, listen, and ask about his experience and the hostage crisis in the Middle East.

In a city that never stops moving, it was moving to see so many people stop what they were doing and share their support. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an important cause and to learn about Simon’s groundbreaking work.

These photos are just the beginning. Lives are at stake, and it is incumbent upon all of us as a global community to wake up. Stay tuned for more.

#bringthemhomenow