Orlando, FL – 25 students gathered at the University of Central Florida, March 4, to protest the presence of Lockheed Martin on their campus. UCF Students for a Democratic Society organized the rally outside of what was meant to be a “Diversity Panel” hosted by the weapons manufacturer, which has supplied weapons to Israel for the ongoing occupation and war against the people of Palestine.

As they rallied outside of the Career Services and Experiential Learning Building, student protesters chanted, “Free Palestine!” and “Israel bombs, Lockheed supplies, end the Gaza genocide!” A large banner held be several activists read,” Lockheed Martin bombs hospitals.”

The group listened to various impassioned speakers who denounced the Israeli occupation, the ongoing slaughter of the Palestinian people, and the attempt by Lockheed Martin to pinkwash its reputation by recruiting a more “diverse” workforce to its blood-stained ranks. The students of UCF didn’t buy it.

“By selling weapon systems and aircraft to Israel, Lockheed Martin isn’t just complicit, but an active enabler of Israel’s genocide in Gaza,” said Marcus Polzer, co-founder and lead organizer with UCF SDS. “And if UCF actively help Lockheed Martin’s recruitment of employees thought the College Work Experience Program, then our university is complicit in genocide. Get these war profiteers off of our campus.”

Within an hour of the start of the protest, a major victory was announced.

It was confirmed that Lockheed Martin had moved its event off campus. It was not clear whether it was the University of Central Florida that gave in to the students’ demands and kept Lockheed Martin from meeting on college ground, or whether the weapons manufacturer itself was scared off by the students’ presence and promise of further direct action.

“This is a great victory for the students of UCF,” said Polzer. “And proof that direct action, ongoing protests, and organizing on the ground, work. And we will continue to agitate for justice on this campus, and for a free Palestine.”

#OrlandoFL #LockheedMartin #UCF #FreePalestine #HandsOffGaza #SDS #Pinkwashing #UCFSDS

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been under siege for close to 15 years, and again, they are facing a criminal attack from the Israeli government and military. At least 231 Palestinians, including 65 children, have been killed there in the past 11 days, when Israel began its missile bombardment of the Strip. Palestinian health officials say 1700 Palestinians have been wounded. Over 1300 housing units have been completely demolished or severely damaged. Even though Israel has publicly announced a cease fire the international community doesn’t know if it will hold. Additionally, there has been no plan stated publicly for rebuilding the schools, hospitals and a COVID testing facility that have been demolished or for providing for the physical or mental health of the people in Gaza.

In response, a coalition of local groups including American Muslims for Palestine, Anti-War Committee, If Not Now, and Jewish Voice for Peace is organizing a protest to #SaveSheikhJarrah – and demand #HandsOffJerusalem and #HandsOffGaza in South Minneapolis with a march through the Uptown neighborhood.

Christine Hauschildt, a spokesperson for the Anti-War Committee, explains the importance of this upcoming event, “The U.S. gives $3.8 billion every year to Israel – mostly in military aid. In addition to that, Biden has authorized an additional $735 million dollars’ worth of weapons to Israel while they have been using these U.S. missiles to kill over 200 Palestinians in the past two weeks. It is absolutely criminal that Biden is sending more weapons to a country which is engaging in ethnic cleansing. This protest gives community members a way to show support for the AOC/Sanders resolutions to block weapons sales to Israel.”

This will be the fourth Palestine solidarity protest in the past two weeks in the Twin Cities area. The protest on May 15 had over 2000 participants who marched in Columbia Heights.

#MinneapolisMN #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarCommittee #FreePalestine