Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Student Movement

By staff

Utah student activists launch divestment campaign for Palestine.  | Quasar Smith/Fight Back! News

Salt Lake City, UT – Over a dozen students and youth gathered on August 30 to launch a campaign against the University of Utah’s affiliation with the University of Haifa, an Israeli university with deep ties to the Israeli military and the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

Utah Students for a Democratic Society hosted the event, which was itself a victory in the aftermath of arrests, intimidation and repression of the student and Palestinian movement in Utah during the last academic year.

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By staff

Denver, CO – On August 28, Denver Students for a Democratic Society held a rally and march against the repression of student organizers who have been demanding that the Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado – Denver cut financial ties with Israel.

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By staff

Pro-Palestine rally at NYU Tandon.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Brooklyn, NY – The NYU Students for a Democratic Society held a pro-Palestine rally on August 26, during welcome week for the incoming freshman class at New York University Tandon School of Engineering (NYU Tandon).

The goal of the rally was to make sure the incoming freshman class was aware of the ties that NYU Tandon had to the ongoing genocide in Gaza through the school’s partnerships, sponsorships, research funding, and investments with military companies and companies aiding apartheid Israel.

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By staff

Denver students demand divestment from apartheid Israel.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Denver, CO – On Thursday, August 22, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Colorado Denver kicked off the semester with a pro-Palestine rally and march on the Auraria campus. The 40-person rally was addressed by members of SDS and a speaker from Denver Anti-War Action.

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By Jon Abraham

Demonstration against repression on the GWU campus.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Washington, DC – On Thursday, August 22, over 300 people gathered at James Monroe Park in downtown DC to support the student intifada. Last semester, students and community members from across the DMV set up an encampment at The George Washington University (GWU), called “Shohada’ Square.” Those involved have been facing charges from the courts, repression from the university, and brutalization by the police.

August 22 marked the first day of classes for the 2024 fall semester at GWU, and student organizers planned a protest to remind administration that they will not back down.

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By Chrisley Carpio

SDS marches for Palestine at the Democratic National Convention.

Chicago, IL – On August 19, hundreds of students from across the country traveled to Chicago to march on the Democratic National Convention. Wrapped in khaffiyehs, holding banners, signs and Palestine flags, they gathered as early as 8 a.m. at Union Park for the noon rally and march.

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By Audari Tamayo

Milwaukee march demands an end to university repression of pro-Palestine students.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Milwaukee, WI – On Wednesday, July 31, political repression reached a new low at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as all five student organizations in the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition were suspended for alleged “threatening and antisemitic” remarks on social media. The students responded with a march on August 5.

The Popular University for Palestine Coalition includes the UW-Milwaukee chapters of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Muslim Student Association (MSA), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Un-PAC and Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA). According to the UWM administration, these student groups were deemed a threat to safety on campus. In reality, however, the only threat they posed is to the U.S. war machine and the pro-Israel status quo.

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By staff

Tampa students really for divestment from apartheid Israel and an end to repression against pro-Palestine students.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Tampa, FL- On Friday, August 9, SDS held an event near University of South Florida, speaking out against the university’s refusal to disclose their investments and divest from companies involved in Israel’s attacks, and the USF decision to suspend international student Joseph Charry, as well the expulsion of senior Victoria Hinckley, who was a single assignment away from graduating.

After four months since the initial Gaza solidarity encampments, Students from the University of South Florida continue to rally around demands surrounding their university’s response to the student-led protests. Students have faced conduct charges, suspensions and expulsions for their participation in these encampments, as well as formal legal charges that have resulted in jail time.

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By staff

Denver rally demands drop the charges against pro Palestine protesters.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Denver, CO – On Monday, July 29, the Protest Defense Committee and Denver Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) gathered students and community members outside of the Lindsey-Flanigan courthouse to oppose the ongoing repression resulting from the Auraria Encampment for Palestine.

Rallying in the early morning, before a number of court appearances for people with citations and arrests related to the encampment, the group gathered calling for all charges to be dropped. In total, 80 cases have been filed as a result of the encampment.

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By Juleea Berthelot

Students speak out in front of Orleans Parish Criminal Court.

New Orleans, LA – On July 30, around 40 people gathered outside of New Orleans criminal court at 2 p.m., an hour before the third court date for the 14 people arrested at the Tulane/Loyola University encampment. The 14 were arrested on May 1, around 3 a.m., by a combination of TUPD, NOPD and Louisiana state police officers.

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