CHICAGO (CBS) — While many stopped to mark Monday one year after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israelstudent activists wanted to draw attention to the war in Gaza, which started shortly after the attack.
As student groups demonstrated on the campuses of schools like DePaul University last year, some students walked out of classes this year. Hundreds of students took part in demonstrations at multiple colleges in Chicago on Monday.
Security wouldn’t allow CBS News Chicago onto the property, so CBS News Chicago cameras captured an image from over the fence.
Henna Ayesh, a DePaul student and lead organizer, said she has been involved in protests and demonstrations. Her connection to the issue is personal.
“My village has been completely flattened and destroyed,” she said. “My family has been forced to flee with nothing but the clothes on their backs.”
At the University of Illinois at Chicago, students also walked out of class.
“My family doesn’t live in Gaza, but they are very affected by what is going on,” said Jenin Alharitihi, a former UIC student. “They barely have the means to even live.”
Alharitihi added: “I think we’re really tired of demanding the same things here every day, demanding the same actions here every day.”
Some faculty and community members joined students in the demonstration at UIC, which was registered and sanctioned by the university.
“If the best thing I can do for this cause is come here and express my support, then that’s what I’m going to do,” said Jeremiah Munog, a UIC student.
Health officials in Gaza say more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the past year. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, most of them during the Hamas attack on October 7.
“We do not agree with the deaths that occurred that day,” Ayesh said. “There is no justification for any of this.”
In a statement, a UIC spokesperson said: “The planned event is sponsored by a registered student organization and is being held through an Open Expression Request submitted by the organizers. As a public institution, UIC continually strives to balance protecting constitutionally protected free speech rights by creating a positive and supportive campus for all members of the university community. The ability to express diverse opinions, especially on complex and multifaceted issues, is fundamental to our democratic ideals and our institution’s open exchange of opposing ideas. Valuing different perspectives also requires an environment of mutual respect, which the University intends to is to uphold our values of inclusivity, tolerance and respect for each other to ensure that everyone can live, learn and work in a safe and welcoming environment. environment.”
Another demonstration took place on the campus of Saint Xavier University.
A spokesperson said: “A peaceful demonstration is taking place on campus today, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine. It is a closed event open only to students and faculty/staff. It is not a run-off, but rather a learning moment. which will educate the community on the concept of occupation and celebrate the one-year anniversary of the start of the war in Palestine. Students will read poetry by revolutionaries and mourn together the lives lost and heartbreak of the past year. The ministry remains close no matter what, but because this is a peaceful gathering, we do not expect there will be a need for enhanced security measures.”
“The students see Palestine not just as an issue for themselves, but as an issue for the world,” Alharitihi said.
A DePaul spokesperson never responded to a request for comment.
More demonstrations are planned this week on Chicago-area campuses.
