University of Alabama students gather to protest in solidarity with Palestine

APP. NEW AT TEN TODAY, DOZENS OF STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA JOINING OTHER STUDENT BODIES AT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY PROTESTING FOR PALESTINE. MANY OF THESE DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE TURNED VIOLENT, WITH HUNDREDS OF DEMONSTRATORS BEING ARRESTED. WVTM 13 GLADYS BAUTISTA WAS THERE TODAY TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES ABOUT WHY THEY’RE MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD, AND IF THEY COULD FIND ANY COMMON GROUND. BOTH SIDES OF THIS CONTENTIOUS ISSUE PROPERLY SIGN IN PRO-ISRAEL GATHERING HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA STUDENT CENTER TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD PEACEFULLY. SEE A POLICE PRESENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WEDNESDAY. AS STUDENTS IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE AND ISRAEL DEMONSTRATED ON SEPARATE SIDES OF THE CAMPUS, STUDENT CENTER, BOTH SIDES SHOULD BE ABLE TO AGREE ON A CEASEFIRE. UM, JUST KILLING JUST NEEDS TO STOP. NOBODY IN PALESTINE DESERVES OR GAZA DESERVES TO BE, UM, KILLED. BUT WAR. IS WAR. AND HAMAS STARTED IT, THOUGH PEACEFUL. THERE WERE SOME TENSION AT TIMES WITH THE TWO SIDES YELLING THEIR DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS AT EACH OTHER ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ONGOING WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AS A JEWISH STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY, IT’S HARD. YOU KNOW, LIKE ESPECIALLY TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH SOME OF THESE KIDS. AND THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR PROFESSORS. AND, UM, OUR SORORITY SISTERS. NOAH DAVID SAYS, SEEING THIS IS UNSETTLING MAKES YOU FEEL UNSAFE. UM, LIKE YOU CAN’T BE YOURSELF. AND I CAN’T STAND FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN. UM, BECAUSE I’LL GET CALLED YOU KNOW, LIKE I SUPPORT GENOCIDE AND I DON’T, BUT, UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY WON’T CONDEMN WHAT WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH. THIS DEMONSTRATION. COMES AS PROTESTS ERUPT AT UNIVERSITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CORDELIA HANSON EXPLAINS THE GOAL HERE IS TO BE PEACEFUL, BUT SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT PALESTINE. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR OUR CAMPUSES TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH EACH OTHER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO. NOT FORGET WHY WE’RE OUT HERE. WE’RE OUT HERE FOR THE CHILDREN OF GAZA. THE WOMEN OF GAZA, THE MEN OF GAZA, THE CIVILIANS WHO ARE BEING KILLED, UNIVERSITY RABBI COOSADA LIPSCOMB BELIEVES THAT MESSAGE, HOWEVER, IS MISCONSTRUED. I’M JUST SHOCKED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE I FELT LIKE PEOPLE HERE WERE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND MORE AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. IF THE TERRORISTS PUT DOWN THEIR GUNS, THERE’S PEACE. ISRAEL PUTS DOWN THEIR WEAPONS, THERE’S NO MORE ISRAEL. ON WHETHER THERE COULD BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND. RIGHT NOW, THERE’S NOT A DIALOG BETWEEN BOTH SIDES. THEY’RE PARTITIONED AND THEY’RE BOTH YELLING AT AT EACH OTHER. UM, I WOULD SAY THERE IS ROOM FOR THAT TIME TYPE OF DIALOG, BUT IT’S NOT EXACTLY GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT HERE. REPORTING IN TUSCALOOSA, GLADYS BAUTISTA WVTM 13. BUT FOLLOWING THE DEMONSTRATIONS, THE UNIVERSITY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, THE UNIVERSITY APPRECIATES THAT ATTENDEES PEACEFULLY EXERCISE THEIR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS WITH NO DISRUPTIONS, VIOLENCE, VANDALISM OR ARRESTS. IT WENT ON TO SAY ENHANCED SECURITY AND OTHER RESOURCES HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND GROUPS WHO H

Updated: 3:25 AM UTC May 2, 2024

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 3:25 AM UTC May 2, 2024

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A group of students at the University of Alabama gathered on campus Wednesday to protest in solidarity with the people of Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza.Led by student organizers and the UA Leftist Collective, the protest centered around the University's reported relationship with both the Department of Defense and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.This comes as the nation continues to see a number of similar protests at colleges across the country."As students of the University of Alabama, we can no longer stand by in silent complicity as our institution funds a state-sponsored massacre of Palestinians," organizers stated in a news release. "A 2022 audit revealed that the Board of the University of Alabama received $10.4 million that year in funding from the Department of Defense," the release continues. "UA also has a very close relationship with Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor that has supplied Israel with fighter jets, Hellfire missiles, and other weapons that are currently being used to slaughter Palestinians. In 2018, UA received $15 million in stock from Marillyn Hewson, the then-CEO of Lockheed. UA is listed as a partner university of the company, and it allows Lockheed to hold recruiting events on campus."The group also published a list of demands, which include:Stop allowing Lockheed Martin to recruit on campus.Break off UA’s official role as a “partner university” of Lockheed Martin.Rename Hewson Hall, which is named after Marillyn Hewson.Disclose a list of investments made using UA’s endowment fund and divest from corporations that are supporting the genocide in Gaza.Stop conducting research funded by the Department of Defense.Release a public statement calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza.Dozens of students could be seen chanting and holding signs and flags at the university's Student Center Plaza. "Both sides should be able to agree on a ceasefire," student Connor Todd said. "The killing needs to stop. Right now, there's not room for that type of dialogue between these two sides. They're partitioned and they're yelling at each other so I would say there is room but it's not exactly going to happen right here."Jewish student Noa David said the protests were unsettling. "It's hard you know especially to go to school with some of these kids," David said. "Those are some of our professors and our sorority sisters. It makes me feel unsafe like I can't stand for what I believe in because I'll get called like I support genocide and I don't but at the same time, they won't condemn what happened on Oct. 7th.""I'm just shocked that this is happening because I thought people here were more knowledgeable and aware of what's going on," University Rabbi Kussi Lipskier said. "If the terrorists puts down their guns, there's peace. If Israel puts down their weapons, there's no more Israel."Demonstrator Cordelia Hanson said it's important to keep the reason for the protest in mind. "It's important for our campuses to stand in solidarity with each other but more importantly, I think it's important for us to not forget why we're out here," Hanson said. "We're out here for the children of Gaza, the women of Gaza, the men of Gaza, the civilians who are being killed."University officials released the following statement in response to the gathering:"Protests were held on campus today by groups with opposing viewpoints. The University appreciates that attendees peacefully exercised their free speech rights with no disruptions, violence, vandalism or arrests. University staff and UAPD were on-site and shared expectations for a responsible, peaceful event along with clear guidance consistent with the law and University policy. All protests must comply with applicable University policies to ensure safety and security on campus and to maintain orderly operations. The University maintains the authority to promptly address any violations. Enhanced security and other resources have been made available to students and groups who have expressed concern, and those resources remain available."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —

A group of students at the University of Alabama gathered on campus Wednesday to protest in solidarity with the people of Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza.

Led by student organizers and the UA Leftist Collective, the protest centered around the University's reported relationship with both the Department of Defense and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

This comes as the nation continues to see a number of similar protests at colleges across the country.

"As students of the University of Alabama, we can no longer stand by in silent complicity as our institution funds a state-sponsored massacre of Palestinians," organizers stated in a news release.

"A 2022 audit revealed that the Board of the University of Alabama received $10.4 million that year in funding from the Department of Defense," the release continues. "UA also has a very close relationship with Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor that has supplied Israel with fighter jets, Hellfire missiles, and other weapons that are currently being used to slaughter Palestinians. In 2018, UA received $15 million in stock from Marillyn Hewson, the then-CEO of Lockheed. UA is listed as a partner university of the company, and it allows Lockheed to hold recruiting events on campus."

The group also published a list of demands, which include:

Stop allowing Lockheed Martin to recruit on campus.
Break off UA’s official role as a “partner university” of Lockheed Martin.
Rename Hewson Hall, which is named after Marillyn Hewson.
Disclose a list of investments made using UA’s endowment fund and divest from corporations that are supporting the genocide in Gaza.
Stop conducting research funded by the Department of Defense.
Release a public statement calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Dozens of students could be seen chanting and holding signs and flags at the university's Student Center Plaza.

"Both sides should be able to agree on a ceasefire," student Connor Todd said. "The killing needs to stop. Right now, there's not room for that type of dialogue between these two sides. They're partitioned and they're yelling at each other so I would say there is room but it's not exactly going to happen right here."

Jewish student Noa David said the protests were unsettling.

"It's hard you know especially to go to school with some of these kids," David said. "Those are some of our professors and our sorority sisters. It makes me feel unsafe like I can't stand for what I believe in because I'll get called like I support genocide and I don't but at the same time, they won't condemn what happened on Oct. 7th."

"I'm just shocked that this is happening because I thought people here were more knowledgeable and aware of what's going on," University Rabbi Kussi Lipskier said. "If the terrorists puts down their guns, there's peace. If Israel puts down their weapons, there's no more Israel."

Demonstrator Cordelia Hanson said it's important to keep the reason for the protest in mind.

"It's important for our campuses to stand in solidarity with each other but more importantly, I think it's important for us to not forget why we're out here," Hanson said. "We're out here for the children of Gaza, the women of Gaza, the men of Gaza, the civilians who are being killed."

University officials released the following statement in response to the gathering:

"Protests were held on campus today by groups with opposing viewpoints. The University appreciates that attendees peacefully exercised their free speech rights with no disruptions, violence, vandalism or arrests. University staff and UAPD were on-site and shared expectations for a responsible, peaceful event along with clear guidance consistent with the law and University policy. All protests must comply with applicable University policies to ensure safety and security on campus and to maintain orderly operations. The University maintains the authority to promptly address any violations. Enhanced security and other resources have been made available to students and groups who have expressed concern, and those resources remain available."

University of Alabama students gather to protest in solidarity with Palestine

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