ACTIVISTS OPPOSED TO WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GAZA REMAIN FIRM EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
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"Students from Wesleyan University and the general public at a protest against the Israel-Gaza war in May. Photo: Boceto Media." |
Middletown, CT.- In the midst of the Israel-Palestine war, a wave of protests has surged across college campuses in Connecticut, with several students taking over the campus to voice their discontent. The demonstrations have led to a series of on-campus arrests, marking a tumultuous period in the state's educational institutions. Ivy Huang, a student and one of the 50 individuals at the Middletown Pratt and Whitney protest on April 15, alleged that the company's sale of military weapons to Israel implicates Connecticut in the Palestine massacre. ”The vast majority of Israel air strikes are carried out using F-15s, F-16s, and F35s, all of which have engines designed and made by Pratt and Whitney.”
The pacific protest took a turn when Middletown Police arrived and began arresting the protesters. According to records, of the students and general public 10 were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
“They used quite a bit of force against me. They kept pulling me up, trying to pull me apart.” Huang says. “But like as a whole, this case has been a really salient example of the Palestine exception in our criminal system.”
Criminal defense attorney Greta LaFleur, is working on Huang’s arrest case. LeFluer says that despite the support of many Connecticut residents for the ceasefire in Gaza, there has been a distinct lack of support from government figures. “So I would say that on the level of politicians. Rosa DeLauro of course, she did nothing. So in general, I would say the response has been one of just silence.” On May 2, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro released a statement after voting in favor of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act.
“Antisemitic sentiment is growing across the country, and it is our duty as lawmakers to stand against hate in all its forms. Standing against antisemitism in all its forms does not mean we cannot also criticize the Israeli government for its actions. Innocent Palestinians are being slaughtered by the thousands and facing starvation in Gaza. That cannot stand.” Julia Tong, a supporter of the Connecticut Palestine Solidarity Coalition, states that the group has been actively organizing since October 2023. However, it wasn't until April 2024 that they began taking their protests to university campuses to voice their concerns against the war. “ It's not just all students. It’s a combination of students and community activists. So it's basically, I would say, an autonomous group of people who are very taking a stand against Israel's genocide in Gaza." LaFleur says she hears the frustration among the general public regarding how major media outlets are shaping the narrative of the Palestinian genocide. “People see that we are not getting good information about what is happening in Gaza. That is erasing people, and it's really exposed the way that there is a sort of ideological bent and a censorious ideological bent at times in all branches of our media.” Dylan Cundiff, a student at Wesleyan University, spoke about her support for the protests against the Israel-Gaza war. Photo: Boceto Media. Dylan Cundiff Is a student at Wesleyan University and was part of the protests occurring early in May. Condiff said that Connecticut leaders need to listen to the community and bring those voices to Congress. ”The bureaucracy here is so overwhelming. I don’t feel there’s been a real conversation,” Cundiff said. On May 18, Wesleyan University reached an agreement to cease camping on campus in protest against Israel. “The Middletown community that we've been getting is people who are in support of what we're doing here, people want to come and kind of boost our morale and let us know that we are supported and I think that's been really powerful.” expressed Cundiff.
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Reviewed by Yadira Carreras
on
May 23, 2024
Rating:
