Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) held a “Palestine 101” event on Wednesday, September 24, designed to educate students about the history of Palestine while providing an opportunity for understanding the current events of the Middle East.

The meeting began with an interactive icebreaker, where attendees were given one of two pieces of paper. While one displayed an image, the other was a description of said image. Attendees were encouraged to connect as they found counterparts to their papers, which included images such as the Keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian resilience.

Students were able to learn about symbols of Palestinian culture through this activity and test their current knowledge. While individuals are informed about the ongoing genocide, it is also important to be knowledgeable about the culture that must be preserved during this ethnic cleansing.

“Art is a very good way to reach as many people as can connect to it,” a student suggested. Students further discuss Palestinian poetry, from before the Nakba and today, as the genocide is ongoing. 

Co-president of the club, Zainab, explained the difference between good and bad activism. Many examples of “good” activism include educating yourself correctly before spreading information, whereas examples of “bad” activism include lashing out or getting aggressive against Zionists. She further emphasized the importance of fact vs. fad-driven activism. 

A student present at the event emphasized that, “Being inclusive of what’s going on around the globe [is necessary]. Having solidarity for everyone is important.”

While the genocide in Palestine is ongoing, it’s crucial not to forget others who are also under attack. This includes Congo, Sudan, Syria, and many more countries.

As the event progressed, Adam Miyashiro, Associate Professor of Literature at Stockton and faculty advisor of the SJP, educated members about the history of Palestine during his segment entitled “Palestine 101.” He spoke on the importance of advocacy work and how important it is to continue educating yourself, especially as students who are coming to an institution for that very purpose, there is a responsibility to learn through trustworthy sources. 

Miyashiro emphasized that “students shouldn’t fall into traps of identity politics.” There are many examples of Western imperialism and propaganda that he wants students to be wary of, and he stressed that Palestine should “be viewed in the longer scheme of history of Western colonialism.”

Professor Miyashiro further educated students on Palestinian history, including the background of Jewish settlement. He stressed the importance of learning geography and historical truth, arguing that understanding the physical and political landscape is essential to grasping the realities of settler colonialism and resistance.

He critiqued the military strategy known as “mowing the lawn,” describing it as a brutal policy of periodic carpet bombing aimed at preventing young Palestinians from growing up and resisting occupation.

According to Miyashiro, mainstream media often manipulates language, especially through passive voice, to obscure the active role of state violence and to downplay the genocide occurring in Palestine. 

He has stated that the recent death toll in Palestine has reached 680,000, though he warns this figure is likely an undercount due to the many victims who remain unidentified or unrecorded.

When asked what he would like students to take away from this meeting, Miyashiro stated, “If people are interested in SJP, they should be aware of the different approaches in Palestine, activism, and organizing. Especially the terms of the current political [climate] of our country. It is important to emphasize the safety and awareness of the history that comes with [this activism] that may not be easily accessible in current social media.”

To learn more about the ongoing genocide in Palestine or Palestinian history, SJP at Stockton will be having many events moving forward. To stay updated on their events, students are encouraged to follow SJP on Instagram and OspreyHub.