On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Students for Justice for Palestine (SJP) organized a walkout and rally to protest both the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, and President Trump’s inauguration the day prior. Dozens of students gathered in front of Geisel library, where speeches were delivered, before marching across campus. SJP stated that UCSD administration threatened to call the police before the event even started, but that they refuse to allow their voices to be silenced. UCSD was unavailable for statement in regards to the validity of this threat. SJP condemned UCSD’s participation in the supply of funds to Israel, and called on the university to divest. However, SJP announced that Marshall, Warren, and Revelle College are the sole colleges that have independently divested.

The walkout opened with a statement from SJP, addressing the ceasefire deal Biden announced in his farewell address on January 15. SJP “welcome(d) the relief that a ceasefire will bring (to) our people” but reminded spectators that there is a “long and difficult road of rebuilding” ahead. They stressed UCSD’s complicity in the supply of weapons to Israel, commenting, “Let us not forget how the UC system manages 175 billion dollar investment portfolio of which 32 billion dollars is invested in the assets that support the Israeli apartheid, occupation, and genocide of the Palestinian people.” 

Bodhi Brenner, a first year cognitive science student, told The Triton, “I think it’s amazing to see all of this support from the student body. UCSD cannot keep supplying Israel with weapons and I think it’s horrible UCSD thinks they can silence this passionate group of people. I hope everyone keeps advocating for what they believe in.” 

Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) also proceeded with a statement, noting, “Our university will throw us students to the wolves and choose racism, islamophobia, sexism, antisemitism, and every other ism and phobia to make money.” JVP went on to tell listeners that the true form of antisemitism is the equivalency of the “zionist state of Israel” with the Jewish people. 

In addition to pressure from UCSD administration, Tritons for Israel (TFI) has also called attention to the lack of enforcement of SJP’s suspension. TFI is a student-run organization that advocates for Israel education through campus-wide events and on social media. On May 1st, the administration placed SJP and JVP on interim suspension on account of their formation of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Nonetheless, SJP and JVP continue to hold events and maintain their presence on campus, including but not limited to the holding of vigils, press conferences, walkouts, rallies, and workshops. TFI claims that these events are in direct violation of the suspension order, and call on UCSD to ‘expeditiously enforce their policies.’ 

A Jewish student, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from their peers, expressed discomfort with a protester who was wearing a Tallit, which is a prayer shawl worn during services and celebratory events. The student commented, “The wearing of a sacred prayer shawl at an event like this is truly offensive and unnecessary. It’s an appropriation of Jewish culture.” The student continued on, expressing, “The speech from JVP was a total tokenization of the Jewish people. We do not all agree with what was said, and we do not choose to align ourselves with those beliefs. I am disappointed.” 

The rally then embarked on a march across campus, continuing to chant and express their demands to the university, including the complete and total financial divestment from the supply of weapons to the Israeli state. Moreover, SJP was unavailable for comment concerning their presence on campus, but they seemingly remain operative, acting as an outlet for disheartened and impacted students in view of the Middle East Crisis. 

Orelia Oiknine is News Editor and a Contributing Writer for The Triton