BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Unrest continues at universities across the country. Demonstrators from Columbia University in New York to Cal State in California are calling out the war in Gaza.
On Friday, April 26, the atmosphere at Virginia Tech was much more peaceful than in many other places, but protests began closer to home. On Friday, Hokie students demonstrated for more than 10 hours.
Student organizers, who plan to demonstrate over the next few days or until the university accedes to their demands, set up tents early in the day and provided food to protesters throughout the day.
“One of the things we've learned from other universities like Columbia University and this massive struggle for the liberation of Palestine is that there's a level of inspiration and hope.” said Eamon Green, a fourth-year university student and media relations officer. group.
Students call on Virginia Tech to withdraw from Israel, increase transparency in donations, issue public statements condemning Israeli violence, define anti-Palestinian racism, and ensure that Palestinian and ally students are on campus. It demands recognition of the oppression it appears to be facing within its borders.
“VT, along with many other institutions, is complicit in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and continues to fund those contributing to this genocide, like states like Israel.” Student It’s good that everyone is trying to fight against it, and I wanted to be a part of that,” said second-year graduate student Cassidy Meeses.
Students are handing out fliers saying the technology company is funding drone research and is part of the Virginia State Israel Advisory Board. Virginia Tech said in a statement that the rally was not registered with the university and that officials, officials and police responded to inform the protesters.
But not everyone was in support of Palestine as of Friday. One man came to campus with his daughter as a pro-Israel supporter.
“I'm not here to say that everything the Israeli government is doing is right, I'm saying that this is wrong. If you're going to protest for peace, include Hamas. We can’t do that,” said Jewish protester Jonathan Silverman. “I want peace as much as they do. I don't want to see bombs dropped on anyone, but there will be no pressure on the people who start this.”
Organizers told WFXR that police told them they could stay as long as they took down the tents they had previously set up. The protesters say they plan to stay here for the next three to four days.