Salt Lake City, UT – On October 21, hundreds of protesters gathered at the steps of the University of Utah’s administrative offices in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Speakers condemned the University’s cooperation with Israel and called for the community to take action towards an academic boycott of Israel.

The action came on the heels of University of Utah President Taylor Randall’s noncommittal, pro-Israel statement concerning the attempted ethnic cleansing of the Gaza strip and the ongoing rebellion throughout Palestine.

Julio Irungaray, an organizer with MECHA at the University of Utah, said “There are no both sides to this genocide. The U.S. government should end aid to apartheid!”

Adrian Romero from Utah Students for a Democratic Society condemned the university’s study abroad program with Israel, saying, “By working with an Israeli university, the U is complicit in the atrocities against the Palestinian people. We demand that the U end this partnership.”

Protesters chanted “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go!” and “Intifada, intifada!” as they marched to the Legacy Bridge over Mario Capecchi Drive, a major thoroughfare in northern Salt Lake City. Protesters waved Palestinian flags over the side of the bridge, and many passing cars honked in a show of support for the event.

The event was organized by MECHA of U of U, Utah Students for a Democratic Society, and Anakbayan Phoenix.

#SaltLakeCityUT #Palestine #StudentMovement #SDS #MECHA #Anakbayan