Cook County for Palestine, a local group of interested citizens, is hosting a two-night event, open to all, that will explore Palestinian history before the 1948 creation of the State of Israel. The presentation leader, Dr. Muain Haseeb, will feature rare videos, photographs, and his personal life experiences on Friday, April 24th, and May 1st, from 6 to 8 pm. The events will take place at Cook County Higher Education, 300 W 3rd St, Grand Marais.
Dr. Haseeb, the lab director at North Shore Health in Grand Marais, will guide attendees on a vivid visual journey through Palestinian cities, families, and cultural life. The presentations blend personal experience, storytelling, historical context, and seldom-seen materials, bringing the past into the present.
“As someone who was born and raised in Palestine, I feel a profound responsibility to share what life there looked like before 1948,” Dr. Haseeb said.
The event is designed for all audiences — no prior background in Middle Eastern history is required. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy Palestinian food, sweets, and gifts for all.
Cook County for Palestine is a non-hierarchical (no formal leadership structure) group of community members whose goal is to educate themselves about the Palestinian people and act in solidarity with Palestinian liberation. Details of this event, and previous ones the group has hosted, are listed on its website: cookcountyforpalestine.org.
Dr. Haseeb said, “These presentations are an effort to honor the people, culture, food, agriculture, trades, and everyday rhythms that shaped our communities. By showing how Palestinians lived, created, and thrived, I hope to offer a fuller and more human understanding of a history that is often overlooked. This work is deeply personal to me, and I want others to see the richness and dignity of a heritage that continues to live in the hearts of those who experienced it.”
