There has been continuous fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 2023. Some of the university’s recognized student organizations (RSOs) put together a peaceful protest in the Maxcy Quad to stand up against the violence, exactly one year since Hamas bombed Israel on Oct. 7.
The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YSDA), PRIDE, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and the Latin American Student Association (LASA) all had a hand in organizing the protest.
“It’s been 365 days of constant bombing, air striking, hailing, starving and the displacement of the people of Palestine. 365 days of continuous suffering and crying from help from the people of Palestine. October 7th marks a significant turning point in recognizing the abuse and discrimination that Palestine faces from Israel,” said the PRIDE President Aj Stack.
Mason Smith, YDSA president, outlined goals for the protest and what YDSA wants to see change on campus.
“We want to see the war in Palestine stop, the occupation of Palestine needs to stop,” said Smith. “The second goal is to get our university to divest from funds that support this war machine, Israel’s war machine.”
According to Smith, the university is involved with multiple funds that give money to Israel. Specifically, a $250 million fund in Israel state bonds and one in over $350 million in defense contracting companies.
Smith is urging the university to develop more ethical spending policies. “There is a presence here that wants to see Palestine get statehood and freedom and independence, and also to look, look at our own role at the universities role in continuing this conflict not directly going into Israel, dropping bombs on people, but we’re still helping fund this, unfortunately,” said Smith.
Smith and members of YDSA have met with university President Jens Frederiksen on this issue where Smith was told that a statement would be crafted and sent out. The university has not yet put out a statement regarding the conflict after their meeting with YDSA.
“In our eyes, it’s seen that the administration isn’t taking our cause seriously,” said Smith. “Because I’m sure they would just rather brush us all into the rug then think about how our university plays a role in genocide.”
Four RSOs were involved with the protest and around 20 people attended. “It takes everyone to speak out [about] it. It really does and also like it benefits the RSO’s too, because now in the future when other issues arise, we can all speak together and like speak together and also collaborate or to support each other,” said Stack.
Smith said, “We’re definitely going to appreciate anyone who chooses to come out here during their school day to show support for Palestine. It means a lot, obviously, to Palestinians that are on campus…but also to our organizations who sometimes feels like they’re putting their necks out on the lines at this university to protest this stuff.”
Shahd Omar, a Palestinian and university student, was at the protest and said a few words regarding the conflict and reminds students “We have the privilege of being here today on our college campuses. Still, we’re able to resume our studies and that’s something that was taken away from a lot of them,” said Omar.
The protesters erupted into different chants and marching around the university seal with posters that said, “Free Palestine” and “Divest from war and genocide.”
As the war rages on in the Middle East with over 40,000 women, men and children killed. Stack said “It is time to stand on the right side of history and ensure that future generations look back and know that we did not turn away in the face of injustice. Let’s move forward together, committed to a future where justice, equality and peace are reality for all people.”
