UW-Milwaukee Students Rally for Palestinians

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A large crowd of UW-Milwaukee students rallied against the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the afternoon of Oct. 28 at the campus’s Spaights Plaza. UWM’s Students for Justice in Palestine, otherwise known as SJP, led the rally.  SJP’s purpose is to work and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people while creating awareness among the general student body in establishing the Palestinian narrative.

UWM students and members of SJP and Youth Empowered in the Struggle. Photo by Melissa Leverenz,
UWM students and members of SJP and Youth Empowered in the Struggle. Photo by Melissa Leverenz,

Students peacefully protested and spoke about the history of conflict and violence between the Palestinian and Israeli people.  SJP members proudly marched in and outside of the Union, along with a crowd of supporters and curious followers, all chanting in unison, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel apartheid has to fall!”

“The reason I came out today is because myself and others in (Student Democratic Society) felt that the recent clamping down on the Palestinian population in East Jerusalem is part of a continuum effort to take Palestinian land and give it to Jewish settlers in Israel. We feel that Israel has committed endless human rights abuses against the Palestinian people,” said Andrew Urban, 24, UWM graduate student and SDS member.   “We’re here to show that there are UWM students who oppose that and proudly stand with solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

A small group of around 5-6 students stood near the Union’s Grind protesting against the rally with signs that read, “I Stand With Israel!” and shouting back, “All Israel wants to do is exist.”  Security was present at the rally in case any conflict between students escalated physically.

UWM Student-protesters debating during the rally, located in the dining area of the Union. Supporters of Israel holding signs that read, “I Stand with Israel”, “Israel: the Last Democracy in the Middle East” and “All Israel wants to do is Exist.” Photo by Melissa Leverenz.
UWM Student-protesters debating during the rally, located in the dining area of the Union. Supporters of Israel holding signs that read, “I Stand with Israel”, “Israel: the Last Democracy in the Middle East” and “All Israel wants to do is Exist.” Photo by Melissa Leverenz.

“We are here today to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and against the occupations.  We are here to stand against Israel’s funding, here to stand in solidarity with movements for divesting,” Huelmely Dejesus said.

Other students concurred.

“As people that are marginalized, we feel the need to stand with them and represent the struggle that unite us and the movement that will connect us to be free,” Iusceley Flores said.

Dejesus, 22, and Flores, 19 are UWM students and members of a group called Youth Empowered in the Struggle, along with SJP.

The rally ended on the ground floor in the Union with a crowd covered in satisfaction, thanking each another for support, clapping and chanting with pride, “Viva, viva Palestina!”

To learn more about SJP, visit its Facebook page at “Students for Justice in Palestine at UW-Milwaukee” for information on how to be involved, its mission and upcoming dates on future events, which are free and open to the public.