The Museum of the Palestinian People (MPP), a non-profit organization, is planning to open in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington, D.C. in early 2019. The museum will celebrate the Palestinian identity and culture in the capital.
The MPP will offer an insight into the lives of Palestinian people, their history, and how they survive despite all struggles. Visitors from all over the world will be able to engage with and share these experiences. The museum is also planning to hold exhibitions and community events every year.
The museum is opening in D.C. at a time when the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) closed its office complying with orders from U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
“It is so touching to see the momentum that leads to this moment. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to the community of supporters who helped us reach this stage,” said Bshara Nassar, Founder and Executive Director of the museum, regarding the upcoming opening. “This is a great achievement for Palestinians and the world. We are excited about the possibilities the museum is creating in bringing Palestinians to visitors’ hearts.”
Nassar told The New Arab in an interview that he wanted to see the stories of Palestine being told in the U.S. capital after he moved to the U.S. “I grew up in Palestine and moved to the U.S. in 2011 – my family has been running a farm [The Tent of Nations] that has been under threat of confiscation for 27 years and has been in the court since then. I grew up on the values of creative non-violent resistance and when I moved to the U.S. I wanted to continue the legacy of my family,” said Nassar, adding that like other visitors to D.C., he would also visit its museums and monuments.
“You see stories from all over the world. However, with all these amazing museums telling diverse stories, I could not find a place to tell my story as a Palestinian, and that’s how the idea came about,” he said.
Founded in 2014, the museum began as a series of exhibitions that traveled to more than 30 locations across the U.S. Located at the Dupont Circle, the MPP provides an easy access to local, national and international travelers visiting the capital.
For any inquiries, and contribution to help in the expansion of the museum, contact the museum here.