Ms. Rachel Won't Work With People Silent About Gaza

Buzz Feed

2 days ago

Ms. Rachel (full name Rachel Accurso) is a children's YouTube personality with over 15 million subscribers, merchandise in stores like Target, and a Netflix deal.
Rachel's reach is massive, and most recently, she's gone viral for using that reach to speak up for the children of Gaza, even if it's considered a risk to her career.
Speaking with NPR, she said there has been pushback from her financial backers for her stance, but she's willing to risk it all. "I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them. It's all about the kids for me."
The Associated Press reported that the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, said 80 children have died from starvation since the beginning of the war.
The U.N. World Food Program claims that 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition within Gaza. Note: These claims from the Gaza Health Ministry on the conditions for starvation are not independently verifiable, as mentioned in the AP reports.As of June 11, AP reported that the Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war passed 55,000 according to the Gaza Health Ministry. While the ministry doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, they claim women and children make up more than half of the 55,000 dead. Israel has stated they don't target civilians, and the deaths are due to Hamas hiding among civilians in populated areas.
Given these statistics and Rachel's stance on speaking up for the children of Gaza, it's only expected that she would hold her collaborators to a certain standard.
Here's the real: Ms. Rachel won't work with anyone who doesn't speak out about Gaza. In a July 24 Instagram post, she shared a post that read, "To anyone asking to with work with me who hasn't spoken out about Gaza: Thank you for the request. I'm not comfortable working with anyone who hasn't spoken out about Gaza. Much love and God bless, Rachel."
In the caption alongside the post, Rachel elaborated on why she had made this decision. "I will always choose kindness, but I will never understand your silence," she began.
"I want people around me whose hearts break for every child - not just when it's convenient, not just when it's easy, not just when it's not controversial, not just when the child looks like you or is born in an 'acceptable' place," she continued.
"I especially can't understand those with so much privilege - the uncancelable - who still remain in the shadows," Rachel added.
Rachel ended the caption referencing the time she had accusations lobbed at her for her stance on the suffering children of the Israel-Hamas war. "I want the light. And I see those of you who risk everything to hold it. I'm in awe of you."
Thousands of people supported Ms. Rachel after she shared this post, praising her for "choosing humanity."
Earlier in the week, Rachel shared another post clarifying that her stance is solely based on her condemnation of all violence against humans. In the caption, she wrote, "I'm a kind, empathetic educator who sees all the world's children as I see my own. I don't see one group of children or people as more equal or worthy than another. This is a beautiful, strong, wonderful thing. This is a brave thing. This is a good thing. I'm proud of it. You can't tell me who I am because I know who I am. God knows who I am."
The caption continued, "Some of us want all children to be protected. We want all children's rights to be respected. We don't want any civilians to suffer. We want international law to be followed. We want the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child to be followed. We want kids in school, learning and playing. We don't want violence against anyone."
What do you make of Ms. Rachel's stance? Let's talk about it in the comments.