Pro-Palestine rally held at Auraria Campus amid growing national protests
DENVER (KDVR) — Activists and students from schools at the Auraria Higher Education Center held a pro-Palestine rally Thursday on the Tivoli lawn.
Dozens of students and community members gathered to protest the United States’ support of Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
This is just one of many similar protests happening across the country, including one at Columbia University that ended with police removing people.
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“If the administration thinks we are scared to show our support for Palestine, then they are so wrong,” said Kyle Burroughs, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
Though no longer a student, he said he felt the need to attend the rally and speak in solidarity with other campuses.
“It has been 202 days since Oct. 7, and to see the university just ignore it is just shameful. So we stand in solidarity with other campuses because they are going through the same exact thing,” Burroughs said.
Similar to those other campus protests, students pitched tents Thursday on the Tivoli lawn.
“It’s just the Arab culture to stick together, but everyone should be sticking together right now whether you’re Arab or not. Just for support for everything that’s going on in this world right now.” Sabrina Bouchagour said.
Rally organizers demanded transparency from universities that invest in companies that support Israel, a meeting with the chancellor and the immediate stop to any study abroad to Israel.
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“I do not see a world where it is fair for a student to go study abroad where 85% of Gazans are displaced from their homes,” Burroughs said.
Auraria is home to the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Community College of Denver. The schools issued a shared statement regarding Thursday’s rally:
“Our top priority is always the safety of our students and community, and we will continue to collaborate with our partners and the Auraria Campus Police Department to ensure the well-being of students, employees and visitors. Our role is to educate and provide forums for learning by engaging in thoughtful, respectful dialogue and kindness. We will continue fostering civil engagement and peaceable assembly while ensuring safety and our academic mission are maintained.”
Auraria Campus schools
A main criticism of these pro-Palestinian protests is that there’s been antisemitism. FOX31 crews saw a few antisemitic signs at the Auraria campus protest and have reached out to Jewish and Israeli students for their perspectives.
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