Within arm's reach of White House, GWU students speak out for Gaza

A palpable sense of purpose filled the late April air as students rallied their peers at George Washington University [GWU], near the White House, in what has now become America's own version of the Arab Spring, igniting calls for change.

With a rich legacy steeped in protest, the campus is witnessing a resurgence of sorts, as hundreds of students and staff, embodying the university's storied past, take centre stage.

TRT World witnessed protestors on Friday swiftly traversing the campus grounds with some carrying provisions and equipment, while others waving Palestinian flags. In a symbolic gesture, one student adorned the iconic statue of George Washington in the University Yard with a Palestinian kaffiyeh.

Amid chaos and clamour, the air resonated with songs of hope for Gaza, as the voices of students united in a chorus of camaraderie — a powerful echo of their collective yearning for justice.

Those in the protest demanded an immediate cessation of what they denounced as their colleges' implicit endorsement of Israel's egregious human rights violations in Palestine.

At the protest site, Adam, a graduate student at GWU, spoke of the devastation in Gaza: "Gaza University has been destroyed, students are killed, and the faculty is liquidated. They need our solidarity now more than ever," he told TRT World.

Mark, another student, voiced his demand: "We are here because we want Israel's genocidal siege of Gaza to end as soon as possible. We urge the university to sever all ties with Israeli academic institutions and disinvest from Israel-linked entities until Israel stops bombardment of Gaza."

In the fervour, an anonymous student posed a poignant question.

"When the US can take Ukrainian refugees, why not Palestinians? The people of Gaza need humanitarian parole. The disparity in US response lays bare the stark reality faced by Palestinians, calling for equitable treatment and support."

Among the diverse voices advocating for Palestinian solidarity, a notable presence emerged from a group of students affiliated with Jews for Palestinian Solidarity. Their support for the cause underscores the multi-faceted nature of the movement, transcending religious and ethnic divides.

In an interview with TRT World, one Jewish student, Aviva stated, "Here we are, speaking on behalf of the Palestinians." Her simple statement of advocacy and empathy highlighted the inclusive spirit of the student protest.

The presence of such a diverse spectrum of voices at GWU underscored a powerful truth — solidarity transcends boundaries.

But protests like these have come with costs.

Students and staff — putting their careers at risk — across dozens of universities and college campuses demanding that Israel end its war on Gaza and their universities divest from Tel Aviv have been arrested, manhandled and some even suspended.

So far, more than 550 students and professors have been reportedly arrested at college campuses across America. Unfazed by the threat of crackdowns and arrests, the protests are only getting stronger.

Back at GWU as the day wore on, the protest swelled in size, drawing students from across the campus.

At the heart of the protest lay a tangible demand for change, articulated by student Lisa Baker: "GWU must divest from Israel. We want something that would escalate pressure on George Washington University and other universities to meet our demands."

"We're here to raise the demands of all the students in Washington DC, which are to divest from companies that are involved in weapons manufacturing and Israeli apartheid in Gaza, and to cut ties with Israeli universities because of their complicity in the Israeli genocide in Palestine," Jaden, an undergrad student at GWU, told TRT World.

Resounding message to the world

Soon it was the Muslim prayer time — and a ritual unfolded at the heart of the encampment.

Mats were meticulously rolled out, marking the sacred space where Muslim students knelt in reverent submission — their non-Muslim peers stood around them respectfully, illuminating bonds of community in the face of adversity.

In a quiet corner of the bustling encampment, a pro-Israel protester stood, a solitary figure amidst the sea of solidarity. Curiosity piqued, TRT World approached her, eager to understand her perspective.

With a warm smile tinged with a hint of resignation, she explained her presence, protesting against the encampment. Yet, the absence of fellow demonstrators by her side spoke volumes. In her smile, there was a glimpse of a silent nuance and perhaps a hint of moral unease.

As the sun set over the iconic skyline of Washington DC, the encampment continued to pulsate with life, a testament to the power of collective action and the resilience of the human spirit.

Here, within arm's reach of the corridors of power — The White House, American Congress, US Supreme Court — the youth are trying to send a resounding message to the world — that the flame of justice burns eternal, and to paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr. — the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.