political action

The ‘one year of genocide in gaza’ protest

university of illinois at chicago

october 7, 2024

Students at the University of Illinois Chicago walked out of classes and gathered in the quad to mark the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, and the resulting genocide in Gaza and the West Bank at the hands of the Israeli government (backed by the USA). Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine and allied groups, the event included speeches from both Jewish and Palestinian students, a teach-in on occupation and apartheid, and a peaceful show of solidarity. Demonstrators laid symbolic items—like shoes and stuffed animals—on campus lawns to honor Palestinian children who lost their lives . UIC’s administration supported registered groups using the quad for expressive activity, emphasizing the balance of free speech and unity . The protest was part of a broader wave of campus actions across Chicago—including Northwestern and DePaul—that called for divestment, ceasefires, and institutional accountability

Photographer: Baitul Javid

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