Caption: Student protester at SJP demonstration Source: Javell Sheppard
Palestinian flags waved all around campus as students marched on Wednesday, Oct. 18. At 12 p.m., students arrived to show support and stand with the people of Palestine. Students, faculty, and staff joined together with flags, posters, and their voices to demand justice and mourn the lives that have been lost in Gaza.
Students For Justice In Palestine (SJP) is a group dedicated to educating the SXU community about the injustices Palestinians face during the Israeli occupation. SJP fosters educational events that promote awareness of the issues in Palestine and encourage solidarity in the community, as well as promoting freedom, dignity, and self-determination for Palestinians.
The march was planned on short notice by Students For Justice In Palestine and the Muslim Student Association as an emergency demonstration in response to the Israeli occupation.
The approval for the demonstration was characterized by a sense of urgency due to the urgent matters occurring regarding Palestinians. SJP submitted a demonstration form and contacted Keith O’Neil, Associate Dean of Students and Title IX, and Kathy Thompson, Vice President of Student Life.
After speaking with O’Neil and Thompson, there were several meetings held with the dean of students in the Student Life department as well as meetings with public safety to ensure the safety of students during the demonstration.
Thousands of Palestinians have been killed due to violence and the Israel-Hamas war. The militant group stormed across the border on Oct. 7, killing thousands of people. The violence caused raids, arrests, and attacks on Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza and PBS.
“For nearly two weeks, the bombardment of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli government persisted, resulting in a staggering loss of life. There have been over 4.5 thousand casualties and over 12 thousand injuries, of which 70% are children”, according to Yasmean Abdullah, Media Coordinator of SJP.
Students found out about the demonstration through the Students For Justice In Palestine’s social media, the Den, and by joining the march as it passed by. The demonstration was planned at the busiest time of the school day to gain more attendance. There were an estimated 250 people who came to support the cause.
“At the time, there were 2500 Palestinians killed due to Israeli air strikes when we put in the request. We had put in a request for urgency and explained that our voices needed to be heard. SJP SXU is also in coalition with other SJP Chicago universities, as the other schools planned their events and so did we,” says Majid Matariyeh, Muslim Student Association President and
Treasurer of Students For Justice In Palestine.
Currently in Palestine, people are waking up under hard rubble and debris, searching for their families, and screaming for the help of others. A six-year-old Palestinian boy was fatally stabbed 26 times in Plainfield, IL, because he was Palestinian. His mother was not able to attend his funeral because she was stabbed as well, according to CNN News.
“This will remind us of the experiences of other people and help us recognize that we are privileged and have a moral obligation to stand up for the people who aren’t,” says Interim President Rebecca Sherrick, Ph.D.
Before students began to march, everyone passed around markers, writing their names on each of their hands to show tribute to the lost Palestinians and to ensure that their stories would not be forgotten.
“Palestinians have been writing their names on their hands in order to be recognized if they get killed by airstrikes. In order to recognize their dead bodies. Our act today in writing our names unites us with the countless Palestinians who have endured unimaginable pain,” says Jenna…
According to Matariyeh, there has been an escalation of violence, with Israel’s military actions resulting in the loss of over 3,000 lives, some of which included 1,000 innocent children. More bombs have been dropping, leading to more bodies being found each day. Palestinians are now refusing to stay silent and are fighting more and more each day for their need for liberation, freedom from occupation, and international attention.
Students For Justice In Palestine and the Muslim Student Association were appreciative of all the people who decided to show up in support and were glad students of different descents decided to attend.
“It felt very empowering and emotional to see so many people come to our event and support our cause. The students who are not Arabs are the audience that we wanted to reach to educate them on what has been going on. However, since SXU has many Palestinian and Arab students, it is up to us to speak about what is going on. As I like to say, when a Palestinian is silent on the matter, we cease to exist,” says Matariyeh.
The overall demonstration left students, staff, and faculty with the chance to unite with one another and amplify their voices for a cause that mattered to them.
For more information pertaining to Students for Justice In Palestine contact, kanaan.j01@mymail.sxu.edu.
For more information pertaining to Muslim Student Association contact, msa@mymail.sxu.edu.