Hundreds gathered in a series of demonstrations across UC San Diego over the past month in support of Palestine. Organized by UCSD’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), demonstrators honored the lives lost in Palestine following attacks by Israel.
On October 12, about a hundred students and community members gathered around the Silent Tree outside Geisel Library for what SJP at UCSD described as a “moment of silence and commemorative speeches to honor our martyrs.”
Taha Hassane, the Imam and Director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, spoke on the history of the conflict.
“The people of Palestine have been suffering 75 years plus of brutal colonization,” Hassane told the demonstrators. “The people of Gaza have been suffering for 16 years plus,” Hassane then said, referring to the blockade placed in 2007.
Around halfway through the speeches, pro-Israel community members held up Israel and American flags along the stairs leading up to Geisel’s plaza level. Pro-Palestine demonstrators responded by climbing up the foliage next to the stairs and blocking the Israel and American flags with Palestine flags and keffiyehs. Organizers repeatedly chanted “Do not engage!” throughout the confrontation.
Once the speeches concluded, tensions escalated again as pro-Israel counter-protestors and reporters from One America News Network (OAN) and NewsMax confronted the pro-Palestine demonstrators. The demonstration concluded peacefully following repeated calls by organizers to stop engaging.
On October 9, Chancellor Pradeep Khosla shared resources for those affected “by the escalating violence in the Middle East.” In another statement on October 10, Khosla expressed his “unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on Israel and targeting of civilians.” Khosla went on to say, “I keep in my heart all innocent victims of this warfare and offer my condolences to their loved ones.”
Many in attendance were upset at Khosla for issuing what they felt was a one-sided statement.
Natalie, an alumna of San Diego State University who asked not be identified by last name, told The Triton, “The Chancellor of UCSD sent out an email saying ‘I stand with Israel.’ I think that email should have said ‘all lives matter.’”
When asked what they would say to Khosla, another demonstrator, who requested anonymity due to fears of doxxing, stated, “We’re humans too … Israelis are not the only ones being affected by this.”
Demonstrations continued on October 25 and November 1 with SJP organizing two walkouts. About a hundred students gathered at each walkout in support of Palestine.
On November 7, Khosla issued a statement after “listening intently and reflecting upon the collective sense of grief, anguish and fear that continues to grip so many within our campus community.”
Khosla continued with, “I hear our campus community joining me in condemning Antisemitism and Islamophobia and mourning the tragic losses of innocent civilian lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip.”
A fourth demonstration is being planned on November 9 at 12:30 p.m. outside the Sally T. WongAvery Library.
Liam Winstead is the Managing Editor for The Triton.