Notre Dame students form Pro-Palestinian protest, seek university divestment from arms firms

SOUTH BEND — In a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest Thursday under the glint of the dome bearing the Virgin Mary's outstretched hand, about 50 students gathered to unite in prayer, grieve for the deaths of more than 34,000 people and demand answers from University of Notre Dame leaders.

The group took turns reciting poems in Hebrew and English, singing songs and giving impassioned speeches. "The violence, the death stops here," a student said. "The suppression of truth, the war, stops here."

They called for accountability of the country's and university's leaders, but also for those who've become complacent.

The university responds: Notre Dame issues response to unapproved student demonstration but declines further comment

When they finished, the students stood and walked toward the south quad, a populated area with student lines forming outside food trucks, chanting, "Free, free, free Palestine. Free, free, free Gaza."

Many students refused to give their full names to journalists.

Andrew, a peace studies and engineering student at Notre Dame, said the university has investment portfolios with engineering companies Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, saying they're involved in weapons manufacturing. He's concerned that billions of dollars in student tuition is going toward weapons of war used in Gaza. This information hasn't persuaded him to change majors or leave the school, but he hopes that with the addition of his focus in peace studies, he can help make change.

"Since Father Jenkins’ call for a ceasefire in Gaza on February 9, 2024, Notre Dame has failed to leverage its capital to actualize 'an end to the violence and death in Gaza,'" the protestors said in a press release, referencing the university's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins. "Instead, Notre Dame keeps its investments private, signaling the University is aware of its own hypocrisy. While the occupation continues to murder 250 people per every day, it is deplorable that Notre Dame, an exemplary beacon of Catholic faith in America, limits its response to lip service rather than spearheading tangible initiatives to bring this plausible genocide to an end."

Andrew's friend, James, said students risk academic suspension or expulsion for having an unauthorized demonstration.

According to Notre Dame's Standards of Conduct for Demonstrations, all demonstration need to registered in advance and in writing with the Vice President for Campus Safety and University Operations or designee. The group made their protest known that morning. James said protests can last for only 15 minutes. Theirs lasted over two hours.

Finding an open area, the group sat and propped up signs against the tents they were building, continuing their chants. "Notre Dame, you can't hide. You're condoning genocide." Lead chanter Arrows' voice grew hoarse, but she continued leading the group.

A university faculty presence started growing. Five faculty lined the rim of the new circle. One university faculty member spoke to a protest organizer. He told them he'd allow their protest if they stop using their megaphone and take down their tents. They complied with the first.

"This is a peaceful protest," Arrows told the group. "We respect the entity of prayer. We strongly take down any prejudice."

For her, this protest was the group's effort of moving the needle. This is their second rally. Their first was around spring break, but the group gathered again to make their intentions known. She said the group's next step is to meet with the administration or investment office and they want the university to hear their demands. First, the university refuses to disclose their investment portfolio, Arrows said. The group wants that information public.

Students gathered closer and began linking their arms together.

A male student kept a close eye on the police. He said he didn't know why they were there, but, "We need to be vigilant."

Ten police officers lined the outer edges of the chanting circle watching. A Tribune reporter asked the Notre Dame faculty why there was a police presence there. They declined to comment and referred the reporter to the university's media relations.

Officers broke into the circle as they walked over the linked arms and grabbed for the tents. Three students sat inside as the officers pulled the tent out from under them. After, removing the tents, the police presence dissipated. The faculty remained on the outskirts.

The male student said Palestinians are being de-humanized. In all the deaths, there's not a protection of life, he said, and they're not being considered human.

"Moral language normalizes the oppression and the violence," he said, "so Palestinians become de-humanized."

He said he knew they'd receive resistance from the university, but they announced their protest anyway. He said the group has tried to reach out to university leaders. "Father Jenkins was too busy," he said.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Pro-Palestinian protest at Notre Dame allege link to weapons companies