A demonstrator holds a Palestinian flag as lights illuminate the sky at Saint Louis University on May 1. The protests ended just as the storm arrived.
Following last Saturday's encampment at Washington University and the subsequent arrest and hospitalization of SIUE history professor Steve Tamari, several SIUE students crossed the river to St. Louis University to show their support for Palestine. A demonstration was held in Mr. Tamari's absence.
At least three of the SIUE students interviewed, who requested anonymity to protect their identities, had Tamari as a professor.
Students said a local demonstration will be held outside the Badala Bene Center on Saturday, May 4. Although the protests will coincide with graduation, the school says it will not prevent students from graduating.
In response to online questions about whether there would be demonstrations during the graduation ceremony, students said they believed it would be peaceful. The students also said that if spreading information about the war is offensive, people should look more closely at what they are saying.
One student, holding a placard with Tamari's face on it, said it was important to participate in these protests.
“This is what I have to do,” said the student. “They're starting to beat up protesters and attack our democracy. Americans are interested in making peace with this war that's happening far away.”
The student said seeing the harm Tamari suffered during his arrest made him realize he needed to do more.
“If this 65-year-old man is going to go out of his way to protest, [the war]Then we must do the same,” said the student.
Another student said that since St. Louis is only a 25-minute drive, he thought it was worth going out to supply the crowd for the demonstration. The student also said he was very disappointed because of what happened to Tamari.
“Tamari has long been an advocate and safe space for students, even at the expense of my own personal relationships,” the student said. “It was deeply traumatic to see him brutally treated at WashU. I think all of us are incredibly proud of him for living up to his values. ”
The student believes SIUE should issue a statement supporting Tamari and condemning police brutality.
“Every statement [the university makes] That’s nice,” said the student. “But it's very neutral. You can't be neutral in a serious situation like this. You have to realize what's wrong.”
The students said they were there to support Tamari's protest and wanted to follow Tamari's example.
“He was sincere, even if there were repercussions. This is a humanitarian crisis, a genocide. We are here to help stop the genocide in Gaza, and we are here to help students in Tamari I am proud to be one,” the student said. “We are here because he himself cannot be here.”
Another student at SIUE, a Palestinian, said that during such terrible times, it is important to find family, especially since they are separated.
“We need to unite and we stand with our comrades, brothers and sisters,” the student said. “As long as educational institutions support occupation, they are supporting genocide.”
“Silence is complicity in this war,” the student said. They were also near Tamari when she was arrested at WashU.
“He did nothing wrong. The students did nothing wrong. There was video showing the demonstrators were protesting peacefully, but then police came and brutalized everyone, including Tamari,” the student said.
The protest at SLU began near the clock tower at 6 p.m. Media was cordoned off in a section separate from the main demonstration.
Crowds of people sat in amphitheater-like seating arrangements, holding placards, listening to speakers and chanting songs.
The demonstrators quickly stood up and began marching toward the Saint Louis University fountain. They crossed Father Biondi SJ Way and gave a speech by the fountain.
They then turned back and marched to Father Biondi SJ Way, where a large group of people were sitting. Police were blocking both sides of the road.
Speakers began talking about the need for these protests. One of the speakers, a Chicano named Alejandro, said Americans need to understand that they are a byproduct of colonialism and genocide.
“European colonialism erased an entire generation,” Alejandro said. “50 to 100 million people were eliminated. Our ancestors did not go through the greatest genocide in history and remain silent during another genocide!”
After the speeches, protesters left the road and marched toward the clock tower. They stopped outside the Pius XII Memorial Library and chanted songs to onlookers inside.
They ended their protest at the clock tower as rain started falling from a nearby storm. The protest lasted about three and a half hours.
