Speaker at People's Conference for Palestine Urges to 'Destroy the Idea of America in Americans’ Heads'

Detroit, Michigan – A panelist at the recent People's Conference for Palestine, Sachin Peddada, a Ph.D. student and research coordinator, advocated for dismantling the concept of American exceptionalism, stating, "The thing to do is to destroy the idea of America in Americans’ heads." The controversial remarks, made during a session in late August 2025, quickly drew attention on social media, with one user, Eyal Yakoby, tweeting:

"At the People’s Conference for Palestine they openly discussed destroying America. 'Destroy the Idea of America in Americans’ Heads.' How is nobody talking about this?"

Peddada's comments came during a panel titled "No Weapons for Genocide: The People Demand an Arms Embargo," where he characterized the United States as "an evil country." He further explained that the average American struggles to understand the Palestinian plight because "the state of Israel is a carbon copy of the United States," suggesting that challenging American exceptionalism is crucial for broader human understanding. The statement was met with applause from attendees at the conference.

The People’s Conference for Palestine, organized by a coalition of over a dozen pro-Palestinian groups, convened in Detroit from late August to early September 2025. The event aimed to strengthen the movement for Palestinian liberation in North America, bringing together activists, academics, and political figures, including U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib. The conference website states that conveners "do not endorse specific statements or actions or screen the words of any Conference participants and explicitly disclaims responsibility for the views expressed."

The explicit call to "destroy the idea of America" has ignited debate regarding the nature of dissent and the boundaries of political discourse within pro-Palestinian advocacy. Critics have highlighted the anti-American sentiment expressed, while supporters view such rhetoric as a necessary critique of U.S. foreign policy and its perceived role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conference has historically drawn scrutiny for featuring speakers with controversial views and alleged affiliations.