Ride for Palestine: The Ride of Return

The Ride for Palestine is an annual fundraising project of the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). MECA works to protect the lives, rights, and well-being of children in Palestine and refugee camps in Lebanon. After over 78 years of ethnic cleansing, displacement, and attacks on their lives and livelihoods, Palestinians remain steadfast on their land and fiercely committed to the cause of freedom and liberation. Riding is an act of solidarity with Palestinian communities as they struggle to protect their children’s lives and their culture from erasure.

Sumoud

For Palestinians, the term “sumoud” translates as “steadfastness” and refers to Palestinian perseverance and collective resistance. Palestinians have been dehumanized, displaced, and killed but remain steadfast as they refuse to leave their homeland even in the most dire conditions.

As the enormity of the genocidal assault on Palestine continues, our support is needed more urgently than ever. All funds raised by the Ride will go to MECA’s relief work in Palestine.

The Ride of Return

There are approximately 14 million Palestinians worldwide–roughly half reside in historic Palestine and the other half live in diaspora communities.  Under international law, all refugees have a right to return to areas from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and to receive compensation for damages.  The Right of Return for Palestinian refugees was affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 in 1948.

Since 1948, Israel has denied Palestinians their rights through forced displacement, military rule, systemic inequality, violent repression, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and ongoing genocide.

The Right of Return remains a central demand in the Palestinian struggle for justice and self determination. This year’s theme, The Ride of Return, symbolizes both the journey toward justice and the enduring claim to the Palestinian Right of Return.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM HERE

The in-person Ride for Palestine will take place on July 19, 2026 starting at MECA’s office at 1101 8th Street, Berkeley. It is an easy 14-mile cruise with beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay. Bring the entire family along for the Ride! It is designed to be enjoyable for cyclists of all ages and skill levels.