Penn State students, locals gather for pro-Palestinian protest as part of ‘Day of Resistance’

A national movement, which some warned could have undertones of antisemitism, came to Penn State Thursday night when more than 100 people descended on the Allen Street gates in support of Palestinians as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Across the street from counter-protesters, most peacefully gathered under a tent on the sidewalk, with signs that read “End Ethnic Genocide” and “Anti-Zionism ≠ Anti-Semitism.” Several speakers also shared their thoughts and experiences, leading the crowd in chants and dispersing water and hot chocolate.

Early accusations of antisemitism spread as a result of several actions from the national chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which called for a “Day of Resistance” on Thursday across college campuses. The Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish organization, accused national SJP leaders of endorsing the actions of Hamas, the militant organization that stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes and in the streets.

The Penn State chapter of the SJP was listed as the organizing group of Thursday’s protest, and at least one co-organizing group used online posters supplied by the national SJP. But the SJP was not mentioned Thursday night, and the organizer of the protest — graduate student Roua Daas, who is Palestinian — declined to respond directly when asked if she was with SJP.

“The point today was to stand in solidarity of the Palestinian people who are currently enduring bombing after bombing after bombing at the hands of Israel,” she said, later declining to clarify her stance on Hamas.

Thursday night’s protest largely remained peaceful, outside of a brief, forceful push in front of State College police at the end of the event. A group of counter-protesters set up across the street, with a large Israeli flag. Candles were placed in front of the flag with a sign that read, “I’m here to mourn, not to fight.”

Since Saturday’s attack, at least 2,700 people on both sides have died. Some Palestinians pointed to the attack as being the result of building anger due to the expansion of Israeli settlements, the treatment of Palestinians, and outbreaks of violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, according to CBS News. Some Israelis have countered by saying whatever has been done did not justify the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history, with more than 1,200 dead and as many as 150 abducted, including women and children.

“The targeting of civilians is a war crime, no matter who does it,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a written statement.

In Happy Valley, different protesters showed up for different reasons. Five groups in all supported the solidarity protest in SPJ, Palestinian Feminist Collective, People’s Defense Front - Northern Appalachia, Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, and Deep Roots Collective. But many more were unaffiliated.

A mother showed up with two children in a dual stroller, one who held a cardboard puzzle box that read, “I want Palestine on my map.” Some sported hijabs; one man wore a Pittsburgh Steelers sweatshirt. Some wore Penn State colors; others wore black, white, green and red — the colors of the flag of Palestine.

Daas highlighted several points of contention with Israel, including Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s announcement of a “total blockade” of supplies to Gaza. That means no food, water or fuel — so the people there are now on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. (A United Nations official called the suffering in Gaza on Thursday “absolutely horrible.”)

“We will not stand for it,” Daas said. “We will not stand for it.”

One energetic man in dark jeans, and an orange handkerchief wrapped around his left arm, stood close by and led the crowd in numerous chants. “No justice!” he’d yell. “No peace!” came the response, for minutes at a time. Other chants included, “From the river to the sea / Palestine will be free” and “Listen, listen. Don’t you cry / Palestine will never die.”

The protest follows a Tuesday night prayer for Israel on the Old Main lawn attended by about 300 people and organized by Penn State Hillel and other groups.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi issued an open letter Thursday — her second this week — in which she condemned the ongoing violence and wrote that bigotry in any form is unacceptable.

“Those seeking to rebrand the appalling atrocities that unfolded in Israel as a justified ‘resistance’ are wrong,” Bendapudi added. “There is no justification for depravity and terror.

“We must not allow this violence to reach our campuses and our communities.”