OCCUPIED AL-QUDS June 11. 2024 (Saba) - Dozens of students at Northwestern University, located in Evanston within the Chicago metropolitan area, made a bold statement by withdrawing from their graduation ceremony in a show of solidarity with the besieged Gaza Strip. Despite facing threats from the university administration, these students stood firm in their support for Palestine.
In a poignant declaration titled "Students for Justice in Palestine," the student body expressed their condemnation of Northwestern University's refusal to sever ties with acts of genocide. They highlighted the stark reality of Israel's assault on the educational aspirations of Palestinian youth, emphasizing that they refuse to condone their university's complicity in such atrocities.
As a visible sign of their protest, numerous graduating students adorned their graduation attire with the phrase "What about the 2024 batch in Gaza?" while many donned Kufic symbols representing the Palestinian struggle. Others opted to proudly display the Palestinian flag.
Reports from the "Chicago Tribune" describe the protest as peaceful, noting that students congregated outside the United Center in a designated area for freedom of expression to amplify their voices of dissent.
Security measures were implemented as a crowd of over 100 demonstrators, some clad in graduation regalia and hats, unfurled a banner proclaiming "Students in Gaza did not graduate." The banner featured images and brief biographies of students who lost their lives in Gaza.
Northwestern University's president, Michael Schill, faced significant backlash during a recent congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., where lawmakers scrutinized allegations of rising anti-Semitism on campus. Calls for Schill's resignation from the Zionist lobby underscored the contentious atmosphere surrounding the university's stance on Palestinian solidarity.
H.H
resource : Saba
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