Fliers lined the steps of the Pit reading, "No Violence. No Words. Just Peace." Peace in the Middle East has been disturbed recently as the Israeli military and Palestinian citizens have engaged in a series of bloody clashes.
That violence prompted students to organize this event, which was sponsored by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee and Carolina Students for Israel.
"The hour of silence is a tool for awareness," said senior Josh Isserman, a member of Carolina Students for Israel. "UNC students tend to be sheltered to what's going on in the world. A lot of students have family (in the Middle East)."
Sophomore Aaron Hiller of Carolina Students for Israel explained that awareness is the necessary first step to action. "If at first you can sit down and think, then you can take the next step and talk about it," he said.
Thirty-five students sat in the circle in a somber atmosphere, with a lit candle in front of them showing their support for the cause.
Hiller said coming together was important for this event. "(Carolina Students for Israel are) ecstatic that the Arab-American group could join them because it shows solidarity."
Hani Alkhaldi, president of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, also said he was pleased by the cooperation between the groups. "(The event) shows that for one hour, people from both sides of the issue can come together and agree that the violence must end," he said.
As the students sat in the circle thinking about the events occurring in the Middle East, many observers stopped to look at the participants and read the signs posted along the steps of the Pit.
Well into the hour of silence, many students still picked up a candle, sat in the circle and shared in the remaining minutes of the hour.
