UW-Green Bay students take part in pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus
GREEN BAY - Carrying signs that included "Stop killing Jesus' blood," "Bombing kids is not self-defense" and "Fund peace, not war," University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students held a demonstration on campus Wednesday in support of Palestinian children.
"These children aren't just numbers," Radwa Farghali said. "All these children had lives, all these dreams, hopes and all these children were children."
Organized by UWGB's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, students read hundreds of names of the more than 13,000 children killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to UNICEF.
Around 20 students and a couple faculty members stopped by during the nearly three-hour event that was organized to stand in solidarity with student-led pro-Palestinian protests across Wisconsin and the country, and bring attention to those killed in Gaza.
Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed about 1,200 people, who were mostly civilians. Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in response has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, about two-thirds of them women and children, according to local health officials, and displaced more than 80% of the population of 2.3 million. About 1 in 3 children under age 2 in northern Gaza are now acutely malnourished.
More: 30,000-plus lives lost: Visualizing the death and destruction of Israel's war in Gaza
It was the first pro-Palestinian rally event students organized on the UWGB campus this year. While it wasn't as extensive as the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Madison and Milwaukee, Dane Snudden, the president of Students for a Democratic Society, said it's important to also show up in Green Bay.
"There are no universities left in Gaza," Snudden said. "Their students have admitted to seeing our student gatherings and have given their full support."
Meanwhile, as the war since the Oct. 7 attack goes into its seventh month, it's been difficult for students like 18-year-old Farghali to go to class as if everything was normal while her mental health took a toll.
"I'm trying to live my life while knowing other people and children don't have anything," Farghali said. "It's an internal battle."
Snudden said UWGB's SDS chapter will be ready to continue organizing in the fall if the war still continues for another year.
"These children are found under the rubble, they're starved, they have no medical help. They are subjugated to the worst conditions possible," Samira Mohamed said. "Seeing all their names and how old they are saddens me because we'll never be able to know the things they went through."
Editor's note: This article has been updated. It originally prominently featured a photo depicting a student holding a sign with a slogan many consider antisemitic. Another photo remains in the story from the event, but its caption now carries more context about the slogan.
Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UW-Green Bay students hold pro-Palestinian rally
