If you do a simple google search of “protest college”, thousands of links to articles and social media will populate. It is an understatement to say that in recent months, the grounds of many colleges and universities have become battlegrounds of a different kind—places where students are raising their voices to protest the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Some have called it simple expressions of youthful idealism, but it’s more than that. They are a reminder of the vital role that academic communities play in fostering global awareness and advocating for peace and justice.
Last month Houston media gathered for a conversation with student protestors over Gaza. On the panel was representatives from Schiff Press, Rice University, University of Houston and students for justice in Palestine and more. They discussed pressing questions such as:
• What issues galvanized this biggest campus protest movement
• Of all the pressing issues confronting students — from climate change to housing costs, abortion, anti-immigrant policies, the war in Ukraine — why has Gaza become the focal point?
• What comes next?
The situation in Gaza is dire. The region has long been the epicenter of a protracted and complex conflict, with devastating consequences for its inhabitants. Escalating violence, loss of life, and widespread destruction have left the people of Gaza in a state of perpetual crisis. The humanitarian toll is staggering: thousands are displaced, access to basic necessities is severely limited, and the psychological impact on the population, especially children, is profound. What does this have to do with college students?
“Young people care very deeply about this and you know young people care very deeply about this for I think a lot of different reasons not only because so many folks have access to the real history of oppression of Palestinians, particularly in occupied Palestine and across the world. But also due to, you know, the United States huge support. Financial support of the Zionist state amidst all sorts of excuses they make for not supporting young people here in the States, right? So they say that they can’t wipe out student debt, but they can give way more money than it costs to wipe out student debt to to support a genocidal regime”.
– Reyna Valdez, Student at the University of Houston and member of Students for
Justice in Palestine
“My name is, Jade. And I am a University of Houston student. And I think, I think the fact that this is a genocide is the primary motivating factor for me right now. You know like people ask what would you do if you were alive during the Holocaust? And, I think this conflict or this, you know, what’s going on right now, this war shows, you know, who are the people who would have actually done something about it and who wouldn’t.”
-Jade Madsoup, Photographer and Student at the University of Houston
In response to these harrowing conditions, these students and students across the United States and around the world have taken to the streets and their campuses to demand an end to the violence and call for a just resolution to the conflict. Far from being apathetic, students today are deeply engaged with the world around them. They are informed, passionate, and willing to take a stand against injustices, whether those injustices occur at home or abroad. The protests for Gaza demonstrate that students are keenly aware of their social and moral responsibilities and are prepared to act on their convictions.
As the conversation continued, we saw a common theme, that these students are more so concerned about the genocide taking place. Media and other popular platforms have been successful in making this war an Anti-Semitic conversation. That jewish students are being harmed and harassed, as if there is no unity between those who are protesting the genocide in taking place in Gaza, and those who are Jewish. However the students who are on the ground at the university tell a different story.
We have a lot of Jewish members of SJP and this is not something that’s unique to Houston. It’s very common across. Any SDP probably has at least some Jewish members. And there’s this constant assumption of Palestinians and pro-palestinian organizing that there is this like I think a lot of people imagine that anti-Semitism is something we’re constantly having to filter out or constantly dealing with when that’s not necessarily the case. And in the meanwhile, there’s never really a questioning of like the other like anti-Semitism is very common in Zionist spaces there’s a lot of people who are. I mean I think the biggest example being like Marjorie Taylor Green famously very anti-Semitic, very pro-Israel. There’s a lot of anti-Semitism that occurs in Zionist faces, but there’s this sort of conflation and this idea that supporting Israel is supporting Jewish liberation, supporting Jewish people. When that’s absolutely not the case. Also, any, type of anti semitism that gets that might pop up usually gets shut down really fast. A few months ago right at the beginning there was a counter protester that was yelling at us and then we had one of our protester that was supposedly on our side that was, you know, yelling back. That guy got shut down really fast, people grabbed him and told him to stop. So, you know, this stuff doesn’t really happen, but you know, it gets shut down pretty fast if it does happen.
Reyna Valdez, Student at the University of Houston and member of Students for
Justice in Palestine
These students are from various ethnic backgrounds unified on the fact that there is power in student activism.
From the civil rights movement to anti-apartheid protests, campuses have historically been sites where significant social movements have taken root and flourished. By providing a space for students to express their views and organize for change, colleges and universities are fulfilling their mission to cultivate informed and engaged citizens.
Furthermore, the protests for Gaza underscore the interconnectedness of our world. In an era of global communication and interdependence, what happens in one part of the world resonates across the globe. Students recognize that the conflict in Gaza is not an isolated issue but one that has broader implications for international relations, human rights, and global stability. By advocating for peace in Gaza, students are also calling attention to the universal principles of justice and human dignity, and more importantly, their vote.
Biden or Trump? The students see it as a heads or tails toss up. They are protesting the “textbook genocide” that the Biden administration is currently funding, all while knowing that Trump also supports Israel. Will they withhold their vote? We can’t say. However, having a military presence on campus to clear their protest isn’t giving them much hope in our democracy. As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, it is essential to support and encourage the activism of our students. Their passion, energy, and commitment to making the world a better place are invaluable assets in the ongoing quest for a just and peaceful global community. We should listen to them, learn from them, and join them in their call for an end to the suffering in Gaza and for a future where peace and justice prevail for all.