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UNC SJP holds first official rally of the 2024-25 academic year

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A crowd of pro-Palestine protestors gather outside of South Building on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

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.” 

Yakob Lemma, another speaker and UNC student, explained the necessity of intersectionality while being a part of social justice movements. Lemma mentioned his experience having family in the Tigray region of Ethiopia during the war, and how he felt like no one was listening when he advocated for action. 

"We should also be talking about Tigray, we should also be talking about Congo, we should also be talking about Sudan,” he said in reference to comments online calling for all attention to be on Palestine. 

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Protesters embrace at a pro-Palestine rally outside of South Building on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Multiple speakers mentioned politics, specifically the 2024 presidential race. 

"Some people say, you should vote for the lesser of two evils — I just see two evils," Ginn said.

He also said that instead of talking with SJP or negotiating, the University sent riot police to "brutalize" students in the Quad, referencing police response to protesters on April 30. He said that "whatever happens next is on them." 

The University released an FAQ regarding activities and protests on Polk Place in May, which detailed UNC’s attempts to hold meetings with the group prior to April 30.

Ginn said SJP has been demanding to meet with administration regarding SJP’s demands, but they have not heard back.

“This is only the beginning of our collective resistance," one speaker said. "To admin[istration] watching right now, we are telling you — we will make this the hardest year of your life.” 

There were at least two drones hovering over Polk Place during the rally, with an SJP member telling The Daily Tar Heel that the technology did not belong to any present media.

@a_nanyabusiness | @DELCRAWL

@dailytarheel | university@dailytarheel.com

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