San Diego City College community members, staff and faculty joined students in protest of Israeli colonialism.
Students for Justice in Palestine called for ethical procurement and SDCCD divestment from any entities profiting from the ongoing genocide in Palestine at the AH-FreeSpeechZone. Mesa College’s own Students for Justice in Palestine held a simultaneous rally.
“The divestment resolution that we’re working on as of now is to get the school to, we’re not directly funding Israel,” said Students for Justice in Palestine Vice President Serena Cuza. “But the school is investing and has certain partnerships with companies like Starbucks, Company Kitchen is on our campus, and those are things we just don’t want to support.”
The rally began with members of SJP opening in a circle, joining hands and dancing dabke. Organizers played traditional Palestinian music and encouraged the crowd of around 80 people to join in on the dance.
In preparation for the demonstration, SJP held dabke dance workshops to teach participants the steps of dabke and also educate them on the cultural significance of the dance and its relation to Palestinian resistance.
“The symbolism of the steps signifies the Palestinian feet are firmly rooted on the Earth,” said SJP President Marco Guajardo. “The lock-step and the rhythm which everyone does together symbolizes the unity of the Palestinian people.”
Police presence was almost nonexistent, with only two campus officers in attendance. Organizers informed City Times Media that campus police had reached out to them before the protest and told them they were within their rights to protest.
After the dancing, students and faculty chanted, read poetry and gave speeches.
“We gather here today as first-generation students, dreamers, part-time and full time workers, parents, teachers and afraid,” said Students for Justice in Palestine member Diego Zavala-Morineau. “With everything to learn from our Palestinian brethren about the true meaning of hope, to endure and meet every challenge, even in darkness.”
City’s Students for Justice in Palestine compiled a petition in order to put in place a district-wide divestment resolution in collaboration with Mesa College, Miramar College and the College of Continuing Education.
