"Food Is Resistance: For the Love of Bread with Reem Assil"

“There are millions of Palestinian refugees all over – so when we think about our food sovereignty it’s about cultural preservation in the places that we’re in, and that’s inevitably interconnected with the other people and struggles in the places that we’re in. We’re part of an ecosystem, and there’s an opportunity there to not just interlink our struggles – but interlink our resistance with other Indigenous communities.” – Reem Assil

ABOUT REEM ASSIL

Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef and activist, based in Oakland, CA, working at the intersection of food, community, and social justice. She is the founder of nationally-acclaimed Reem’s California, an Arab bakery and restaurant that builds community across cultures and experiences through the warmth of Arab bread and hospitality. Reem has garnered an array of top accolades in the culinary world, including James Beard finalist for Outstanding Chef (2022) back to back semifinalist for Best Chef: West (2018-19). Before dedicating herself to a culinary career, Reem spent over a decade as a community and labor organizer, building leadership to have a voice in their jobs and their neighborhoods. Reem is the author of IACP award-winning cookbook Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora (2022).

ABOUT 18MR

Our Mission: Harnessing the power of the internet, cultural work, and movement building, 18MR grows Asian American political power by educating, mobilizing, and organizing Asian Americans towards taking collective action online and offline.

Our Vision: We work within movements for racial justice, abolition, and democracy towards a liberated future for Asian Americans and all marginalized peoples.

Learn more at 18mr.org

ABOUT BRENDA CHI (18MR’s Communications Designer & In-House Artist)

Brenda Chi (she/her) is a queer Chinese-American artist from Los Angeles (Tongva Land), CA. She joined 18MR in 2022 bringing in a decade of experience in entertainment art, apparel, comics and illustration. She hopes to make art that builds community and inspires folks to be part of our fight for liberation.

Please note that this comic was written in Dec 2024, so some information may be out of date.