UNC Students for Justice in Palestine held its first rally of the academic year on Thursday evening, described by organizers at the event and on the group's Instagram account as a "disorientation." The event, held at South Building, included nine speakers and attracted a crowd of 70-80 students and community members.
Speakers condemned U.S. support of "the zionist genocidal campaign," describing the war in Gaza. One speaker said that UNC students' tuition money and tax dollars are enabling factors.
"We are doing UNC a favor, reminding them that divestment now will save them from the disparagement of ethical failures," the same speaker said.
SJP was originally suspended by the University on May 1, meaning that the group may not participate in University activities, use campus facilities or receive funding from student fees or University sources, according to an email from UNC administration to the campus community on May 3.
This suspension has not stopped the group from hosting events, holding a bake sale on the first day of classes and speaking about future organizing efforts at Thursday's rally.
"We're only going to ramp up from here, really the ball is in their court," PhD candidate and SJP member Jacob Ginn said. "So until they meet our demands, we will continue to escalate."
Ginn said that the groups demands include a commission to "figure out how UNC can divest from Israel."
Another speaker detailed what protests have historically looked like at UNC, citing students on campus protesting the Vietnam War in the late 60s and early 70s. They said that the University would only do the moral thing when it faces "unrelenting resistance from the student body."
“The chancellor and Board of Trustees tell us it can't be done, but that is a lie," one speaker said referring to divestment. "It has been done before, and it will be done again.”
