By: Aaron and Nick
On October 20th of 2023, 300 students from 20 different Philadelphia schools walked out in protest for the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine, specifically in support of Palestine.The recent war between Israel and Palestine has affected people across the world on many different levels. In most cases, the political affairs of groups overseas don’t make so much of an impact that students feel that they have to take a stand.
“This has affected me and they're like a big significant one because I Stand with solidarity with Palestine because I understand how it feels to have someone just come in your home, your territory, and try to get you out of it.” Khadija Smith said.
Smith notes how she relates to the struggle in Palestine and this feeling is shared among many students in Philadelphia. Three hundred students from twenty different schools had a collective protest where they left school on the 20th.
“The significance of [Friday’s student] walk-out is showing that it’s not just adults who are sitting in front of the news who care about what’s happening in the world,” Nada Abusair an Organizer part of the Philly Palestine Coalition said, “It’s also students who realize this is their future, and that their future is actually in their hands.”
A large group of students have been putting their personal beliefs before the opinions of authorities whether it be walking out of school in an act of protest or, in the case of students who attend the University of Penn, defying the orders to postpone the showing of a documentary surrounding the war.
"I got a call from the vice provost of the university life threatening disciplinary action if our student group continues to host this screening," Jack Starobin, a member of Penn Chavurah reported.
Another act of defiance has been happening with many students in Philly boycotting specific stores that are siding with Israel in the conflict. Starbucks has been sending Israel money and as a result, many people are boycotting them resulting in their profits plummeting.
“Boycotting stores, you know, spread the word, help more people boycott stores,” Angelique Swift, a student at Carver E&S, said.
"Cities around the world - including here in North America - have seen escalating protests. Many of our stores have experienced incidents of vandalism," Laxman Narasimhan, chief executive of Starbucks, said.
Although this conflict is taking place on the other side of the world, it still affects many people across the world, mentally, seeing videos all over the internet of their own people being massacred.
“It just hurts to see my own people, with me being a Muslim, get oppressed,” Isjeer Lowery, a student at Carver E&S, said.
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