Protest against Israel occurs with backdrop of graduating UGA students taking pics at Arch
A group of protesters numbering at times from 30 to 40 gathered Wednesday afternoon in front of the University of Georgia’s Arch, the metal gateway that is the university’s symbol as an educational institute.
The protest against the war that Israel is waging against Hamas in Gaza was loud, but peaceful.
The protest, organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, lasted about 90 minutes at the busy location on Broad Street amid a constant flow of vehicular traffic and people moving to and from campus.
The protesters carried numerous signs from “Free Palestine” to “End All U.S. Aid to Israel.” Protests are occurring on university campuses throughout the nation, some leading to violence between protesters and police. On Monday, a protest on UGA property in front of the building housing UGA President Jere Morehead's office ended with the arrests of 16 people on misdemeanor charges.
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Before Wednesday's protest began, two UGA officials from Student Affairs approached one of the protest organizers, Trey Holloway, and explained a boundary that exists. The protest, they explained, is not to occur on UGA property.
The steps to the Arch is on university property, while the sidewalk belongs to Athens-Clarke County.
The protesters were warned not to deliver their message from the steps. Holloway, who is a student, basically adhered to their admonishment. The speeches were made from the city’s sidewalk.
The UGA officials melted back into the shade of a nearby tree on campus and waited.
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Graduation is nearing at UGA and numerous students were having photographs made while standing in the Arch. Wearing caps and gowns, they smiled for photos while amplified speeches filled the air.
A man walking his large teddy bear of a dog came upon the scene and he made an issue of the protest occurring while UGA graduates were documenting their last days as students.
He cornered one female protester and questioned why their right to protest was more important than students' rights to celebrate their achievement. Some words were exchanged including one woman who said students at universities in Gaza cannot celebrate any graduations.
“The world is bigger than you,” one young woman told him.
Eventually, the man left walking toward College Avenue, and the protest and the picture taking continued.
During the protest, there were no UGA police present and a Georgia State Patrol unit passed twice during the protest, once coming to a quick stop less than a foot behind a car stopped for a red light.
The protest was over the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack in Israel, killing more than 1,200 and kidnapping more than 200 people. Israel’s military response to the attack has resulted in the deaths of more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to reports by USA Today.
Holloway, who is a native Georgian, said the protest is “an issue about fighting for Palestine and ending the genocide. That is our primary goal here.”
Holloway said protests like this are important, noting the protests of the Vietnam War and the protests that ended Apartheid in South Africa.
“Our history is our power,” Holloway said. “Our history is our future.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Protesters against Israel gather at the Arch in front of UGA campus
