The Power of Collective Action: How Students United for Palestine
As the death toll in Gaza continued to rise, David Rosenburg, a 19-year-old student at Tufts University, decided to take action against Israel’s war on Gaza. Inspired by readings on resistance movements, Rosenburg organized solidarity encampments on campus to protest the killings in Palestine and call for divestment from companies profiting from the occupation.
The encampments, which sprang up at universities across the US, created vibrant spaces where students found camaraderie, faith, and community. Despite facing backlash from administrators and pro-Israel groups, these student-led movements gained momentum, becoming one of the largest anti-war student actions since the Vietnam War protests.
While mainstream media often tried to paint the encampments as antisemitic, the reality was different. Jewish students played crucial roles in organizing and participating in the protests, challenging the narrative that supporting Palestine was synonymous with being anti-Jewish. They upheld values of justice, freedom, and equality, proving that the movement was about solidarity, not division.
Despite facing obstacles and opposition, students across campuses stood firm in their commitment to justice for Palestine, showcasing the power of collective action and unity in the face of adversity.