San Jose State University students rally for Palestine
San Jose, CA – On October 12 around 100 students gathered on San Jose State University's campus to support Palestine. The protest began near the Olympic Black Power Statue and was organized by the SJSU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. Protesters brought Palestinian flags, keffiyehs and homemade signs.
The protest began with speakers, most of whom were Palestinian-American students. They spoke out despite fear of doxxing and retaliation by the school, faculty members or others. Organizers provided surgical masks for protesters who wished to avoid being identified. The only official university presence was the SJSU police.
The major theme throughout the speeches was the ongoing genocide, occupation and human rights abuses that Zionists have been enacting upon the Palestinian people for over 75 years. Some students raised feeling unheard and unsupported by SJSU administration, and unsafe on campus. The previous day, several members of the university administration attended the “Vigil for the Victims of Terrorism against Israel” that was organized by the SJSU Jewish Faculty and Staff Association.
After the speeches, protesters began marching through campus, chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”
They also chanted, “When people are occupied, resistance is justified” and “Intifada, intifada, long live the intifada.” Several students expressed their support as the march passed by them.
They marched back to the starting place, for another round of chanting. Organizers ended the rally by announcing another upcoming protest for Palestine happening in San Jose on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. at the corner of Stevens Creek and Winchester Boulevards.