Photo Story: Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine continues weekly protests on Saturday
February 12, 2024
By Hannah Henderson
The organization has held protests demanding city officials to call for a ceasefire in Gaza almost every Saturday since October, 2023
Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine held a protest demanding city officials to call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 at Speakers Circle in Columbia, Mo. MSJP has organized weekly protests almost every week since October of 2023. The organization was also involved with the Columbia Ceasefire Coalition’s action at the Columbia city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. During the meeting, Columbia mayor Barbara Buffaloe signed a ceasefire proclamation. The group marched from Speakers Circle to City Hall and back, yelling out chants along the way.
MU alum Salwa Ali waves a Palestinian flag on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 at Speakers Circle in Columbia, Mo. “I hope to see peace in the region,” Ali said. “I hope that Palestinians can get their rights back and be viewed as equal human beings to all the rest of us. They should not be under siege, they should not be under bombing.” Ian De Smet, junior and co-chair of Mizzou Young Democratic Socialists of America, uses a megaphone to direct chants. “We managed to get the resolution signed — the third largest city in Missouri,” De Smet said in reference to the group’s action at the Jan. 16 city council meeting. (From left) Sophomore Aidyn Gleason, junior Angelina Derry and MU alum Chloe Lukasik lead the march to City Hall. “The International Court declared possible that Israel has committed acts of genocide against the Palestinian people,” junior Ian De Smet said as he addressed the crowd before their march. Sarah Wolcott holds one end of a Palestinian flag and chants with other protestors at City Hall. Once the group reached City Hall, they held a minute of silence to honor the lives lost since Oct. 7, 2023. Ian De Smet, junior and co-chair of Mizzou YDSA, marches with the crowd of protestors on the way to City Hall. “I know it’s been months now, we’ve been meeting [just about] every week since Oct. 7,” De Smet said, addressing the crowd of protestors. “It’s really easy to get desensitized to all the violence we’ve been subjected to online, on TV, just hearing about all the stories can be very heartbreaking, very desensitizing, very demoralizing. But I want you guys to look up, look to the sides and see the people with you here. We’re not alone. The people in Gaza are not alone.” Protestor Jhon McBride participates in a call and response chant of: “What do we want?” “Ceasefire!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” at City Hall. “I just hope that we can actually show the world that things can change,” McBride said. “And that hope is better than just standing by while people are getting innocently killed.” The group of marching protestors cross Eighth St. in front of Jesse Hall. While marching to City Hall, protestors were met with support in the form of honks and people flying Palestinian flags out of their cars. There was also opposition, including middle fingers directed toward them and a person countering by saying, “free Israel,” out of a car window.
Note: At request of a source, their quote was updated to best reflect their sentiment, as English is not their first language.
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Visiting Mizzou and was super happy to see a protest. Our generation fighting for peace and equal rights worldwide is always amazing to see.