Pro-Palestinian protesters unite after end of ceasefire in Gaza

Three small wooden coffins sat near the sundial on McKeldin Mall at the University of Maryland with the Palestinian flag waving in the wind as numerous pro-Palestinian supporters protested, prayed and held speeches on Wednesday.

The protest, “Dawn Massacre Sit-In and Vigil,” was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, the Anti-Imperialist Movement at UMD and the Jewish Voice for Peace to cry out their opposition to the university administration after the ceasefire in Gaza ended. 

Protesters urged students to vote ‘yes’ to a new Student Government Association divestment referendum that would require the SGA to lobby the university to stop supporting defense and military companies that some students argue facilitate violations of human rights law. 

Last fall, a similar divestment resolution was being voted on, students had to go to several SGA meetings in order to vote and the resolution was denied. This year, all undergraduate students will be able to vote online on whether SGA will lobby the University System of Maryland and its foundations to divest from companies that violate human rights. 

After a two-month ceasefire where more than 30 Israeli hostages were released from Hamas in exchange for hundreds of prisoners, Israel resumed air strikes on the Gaza Strip because Hamas refused to release more hostages until a permanent truce was reached, according to The New York Times. 

The sit-in, held from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., included numerous events such as speeches by journalist Sam Husseini and SJP members like Omar Sabra and Daniela Colombi, an art demonstration, a “know your rights” workshop and a prayer. 

The speeches addressed the SGA divestment bill, unity of the pro-Palestinian supporters and criticized the United States government and the UMD administration.  

Hershel Barnstein, a senior biology major and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace spoke at the protest, expressing his solidarity with Palestinians. 

“We founded our chapter here in October of 2023 and it’s a group of students who are using our voices as Jews to advocate for the Palestinians and to stand with our allies.” Barnstein said. “We feel it’s very important to stand by their side when this is happening.”

In a statement toThe Black Explosion, the university said, “UMD maintains relationships with public and private organizations representing many different sectors and industries, including defense contractors, which play a critical role in national security.” 

Barnstein mentioned the detainment and attempted deportation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate from Columbia University who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly being a threat to U.S. security, according to CNN. The U.S. Government accused Khalil of being a Hamas sympathizer and withholding information on his green card. 

“We will never be intimidated. Donald Trump, you are today’s battle. We took down Genocide Joe. We took down Killer Kamala, and we’ll take you down the same.You can’t deport a movement,” Barnstein said in his speech. 

Matthew Foos, a junior philosophy and physics double major and member of SJP, expressed support for the activists fighting for Palestine and Khalil. 

“We’re not going to stand for this, and we will stand to express our support,” Foos said. “Even in the face of repression… we know we will never stop, no matter what happens.”

Incidents such as Khalil’s detainment have left pro-Palestinian afraid to share their identities for fear of deportation. One of the speakers, who did not reveal their name and wished to remain anonymous due to fears of retaliation, touched on Gaza’s occupation by Egypt and Israel. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 until they reententered, starting the conflict in October 2023, according to BBC. 

“You can occupy land, but you can’t break up people who refuse to bow,” she said. “Our will, unshakable, our roots, unmovable, our answer, we’re not going anywhere… We have been tested, we have been scattered, we have been scarred. But one thing, we have never surrendered.”

Junior chemical engineering major Mason Loeffler spoke on behalf of the Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines at the sit-in.

“I just wanted to extend my solidarity to all the Palestinian people — both on this campus and across the world — especially those engaged in active resistance and struggle for their basic rights against the current U.S. Zionist onslaught,” Loeffler said in his speech. 

Loeffler, like Barnstein, directly addressed President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the university.

“We’re still here. And we’re never gonna stop. We will never stop. We will never rest. As long as injustice is being committed, we will stand against it. We will campaign against it. We’ll put everything on the line to try and stop it. That’s our moral imperative. That’s our moral obligation,” Loeffler said.