Why more than 1,000 UT Austin students walked out of classes to support Palestinians

More than 1,000 University of Texas students and community members gathered in pouring rain Thursday afternoon in support of Palestinians.

The Palestinian Solidarity Committee, which serves as both the community and UT student organizing group for Palestinians in Austin, held a “Walk Out” event Thursday at the Gregory Gym. Students left class to gather and chant for the end of the occupation of Gaza and the end of aid to Israel.

An estimated 1,200 attendees then marched to the UT Main Mall, chanting under umbrellas.

Thursday’s walkout was part of a national walkout held by Students for Justice in Palestine chapters. There are more than 180 chapters on U.S. college campuses.

More: Hundreds come to Texas Capitol in support of Israel, Palestinians amid ongoing war

The PSC announced the walkout in a petition on Instagram accusing the university of “fostering an anti-Palestinian campus environment.”

“While (UT) President (Jay) Hartzell condemned the actions of Hamas in his statements, he remains silent about Israel’s,” the statement said. “If Hartzell truly ‘mourn(s) any loss of innocent life,’ his refusal to condemn Israel’s actions signifies hypocrisy.”

On Oct. 7, Hamas, a militant group of Palestinians that governs the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 Israelis and 240 Israelis taken hostage. Israel declared war against Hamas in response, and, in the weeks since, more than 10,000 people have died in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.

The university does not typically make statements on global events, but Hartzell emailed the UT community twice in October about the impact the war is having on campus.

The first email asserted UT’s commitment to protecting free speech and said there will be increased security for Jewish organizations, but it did not mention Palestinian students.

The second email said the violence actions of Hamas on Oct. 7 “deserve to be condemned and have absolutely no moral defense,” and it pointed to the increased safety concerns for Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian people and to Hartzell's support for all affected by the war.

“My heart goes out to the millions of people affected by this war, and I especially mourn any loss of innocent life,” Hartzell’s email stated.

The emails said there is zero tolerance for antisemitism or hate-filled actions toward Muslim or Palestinian communities.

In its statement about the walkout, the Palestinian Solidarity Committee called for the school to publicly apologize and to release a statement acknowledging the violence against Palestinians. The group also called for UT to divest from investments in weapon manufacturers that contribute to Israel.

The investments for the UT and Texas A&M systems are controlled by the University of Texas Investment Management Co. Individual university presidents do not have control over investments.

At the protest, students chanted, “No more money for Israel’s crimes,” “From Palestine to Mexico, all the walls have got to go” and “Israel, Israel, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.” They also chanted against Hartzell directly and chanted that Israel was racist.

Texas Hillel, a campus organization for Jewish students, released a statement on Instagram Tuesday night expressing sadness and concern about the walkout. The walkout, it said, coincides with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, a violent night of attacks by the Nazis against the Jewish people in Germany in 1938 also known as the Night of Broken Glass.

The statement recommended that students avoid the area of the walkout and report any instances of antisemitism to the Anti-Defamation League.

About a dozen students held Israeli flags during the Palestinian Solidarity Committee walkout.

The protest was peaceful, and no incidents were reported. Many attendees wore a keffiyeh, a square white cloth with black stitches, which is a symbol of Palestinian nationalism. Speakers spoke about Palestinians lost in the war.

Ammer, a UT student and Palestinian Solidarity Committee steering committee member who asked that only his first name be included, said the committee advocates for peace for all people. Ammer made a distinction between anti-Zionism, defined as being against the political movement for the protection of the Jewish nation of Israel, and antisemitism, defined as prejudice or hate against Jewish people.

“We don’t advocate for hate or violence,” Ammer said.

Ammer has relatives in the West Bank. He said the discussion around the conflict has often dehumanized Palestinians and has minimized or obscured the harm the occupation of Palestinian-occupied territories has had on Palestinian people. They are calling for a cease-fire, he said, and for the end of the occupation of Gaza.

Levi Fox, a Jewish student on campus, held an Israeli flag at the walkout. He said he believes in the First Amendment right to protest and that the walkout was peaceful.

Fox said he lost friends during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He said he does not believe Israel should be the only state in the region, but rather, believes there is an opportunity to coexist in peace.

“I do believe that the Israeli government has done some bad things, and I do believe that Hamas has committed crimes against humanity and atrocities. But that doesn't mean that I don't support the Palestinians' right to a state,” Fox said. “The Israeli government doesn't stand for all Jews, just like Hamas doesn't stand for every Palestinian.”

The Palestinian Solidarity Committee is hosting a protest at the Capitol at 1 p.m. Sunday to advocate for a cease-fire.

The UT President’s Office referred the American-Statesman to the emails for comment, declining to comment further.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: More than 1,000 UT students walked out to protest Israel-Hamas war