Today marks the fifth day of a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park. On Tuesday, as many as 20 professors joined students who are demonstrating against the Israel-Hamas war. Some students have been camping out on SSU’s Person lawn since last Friday. The protesters, organized by SSU Students for Justice in Palestine, are demanding the university call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and recognize Palestinian identity in academics. They also want the university to divest from all entities that profit from and support the occupation of Palestine and agree to an academic boycott that would shut down study-abroad programs linked with Israel.
Meanwhile, JC students are planning to stage their own protest. Santa Rosa Junior College students will hold their own pro-Palestinian protest Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Bertolini Quad. It’s being hosted by the SRJC Middle Eastern North African Association Student Club who will provide music from the Arab world, fresh fruit and materials to make posters. The club states this is a peaceful protest and they do not support hate speech of any kind, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
