Submitted to The Argo by Iman Ahmed on behalf of Students for Justice in Palestine

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) held an event on International Al-Quds Day. Al-Quds Day is an annual day that expresses support for Palestine against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The definition of Al Quds is the Holy, referring to Jerusalem also known as the Holy City. Al Quds Day has been observed globally on the last Friday of Ramadan since 1979.

In honor of Al-Quds Day, Stockton’s SJP held a “Protest and Chalking” Event. This event was held on April 4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the D/F Plaza outside of the Multicultural Center. As the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians have been ongoing for the past 6 months, many people have still not been truly educated on the topic. SJP has made it a priority to educate their fellow peers. As colleges and universities are education institutes, it is important for students to learn about the reality of what is happening worldwide.

Students who attended the event used chalk art as a form of resistance. Attendants showed their creativity by drawing symbols of Palestinian resilience. This variety included keffiyehs, olives, keys, and watermelons. Phrases such as “Free Palestine”, “Palestine you will never walk alone”, “Children are not a threat”, “From the river to the sea”, and many more were drawn all over the area. The resistance of art is a form of protest and has the power to not only challenge the “norms” but also to inspire and advocate change. With protests on and off campus, SJP advocates for the voices of Palestinian lives. Once the chalking event was over, a protest was also held to raise awareness on the issue.

In Fatima Khawaja’s words, who is an executive member on the board of SJP, “Here at SJP we demand change through education! We are constantly increasing the political education on campus which we know will lead to heightened awareness and that is how we achieve effective activism.”

Dr. Christopher Catching, Vice President of Student Affairs, came out in support of SJP and to learn more about the Palestinian cause. He says, “I am glad that you all [Students for Justice in Palestine] have taken the opportunity to educate your classmates.” He stayed throughout the event to understand more about the reality of what is going on in the Middle East.