Over 200 community members and students gathered at Centennial Park on Oct. 7 to protest the continued violence in Gaza, one year after the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The protest was organized by Vanderbilt Students for Justice in Palestine and local pro-Palestinian groups in Nashville, including the Palestine Hurra Collective, Tennesseans for Palestine and Veterans for Peace, among others.
Protestors joined in chants in support of Palestine — including “the people united will never be divided” and “resistance is justified when people are occupied.” Several protestors held paper flowers resembling poppies, a symbol that has been used in Palestinian art and activism to represent resistance and a connection to the land. The flower contains all four colors of the Palestinian flag.
In an Oct. 7 Instagram post, the Palestine Hurra Collective said the protest was organized to “honor the martyrs” and to foster community on the anniversary of one year of genocide. SJP did not immediately respond to The Hustler’s request for comment.
The protest began at 5:30 p.m. CDT at the entrance of Centennial Park along West End Avenue, with protestors joining as the group marched up the road towards the corner of 29th Ave N and West End Ave. They then walked to the Parthenon where multiple speakers addressed the crowd. The speaker’s full names were not announced. The first speaker reflected on the impacts of the conflict beyond the physical lands of Israel and Palestine.
“Every bomb dropped, every life stolen, every home demolished, is not just an attack on Palestine. It’s an attack on humanity,” the speaker said. “It is an insult to every one of us who still has a heart that beats for justice, who still knows the meaning of freedom and dignity.”
She also said that this is not a time for tears or words of sympathy but for action.
“[The oppressors] feed off of our despair, but let me tell you something. Despair is not what we will give them,” the speaker said. “We will give them rage. We will give them resistance. They want us to beg. They want us to plead for our lives. They want us to submit, but we will not submit.”
Senior Shriya Iyer described attending the protest as “deeply significant” for her.
“It was refreshing to be in a space where human rights aren’t up for debate and [to be] surrounded by voices that champion the ongoing fight for Palestinian liberation as a justified and essential assertion of the human right to exist,” Iyer said in a message to The Hustler.
Iyer also discussed the responsibility people have to address this conflict and said she believes history has taught that peaceful resistance isn’t a viable response to occupation.
“I therefore find it crucial to dismantle the narrative that the bombing of Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen are merely acts of defense,” Iyer said. “Ultimately, it is up to us to demand the divestment of funds from Israel. We have a responsibility to continue protesting and educating others about the ongoing genocides not only in Palestine but also in Congo and Sudan. It’s also on us to call for an immediate ceasefire from Israel.”
Another speaker at the event compared the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene and its response to global conflict.
“The United States government has claimed that it faced logistical difficulties in getting aid to the storm areas,” the speaker said. “Just last week, the United States carried out a bombing campaign in Yemen. Our government can effortlessly drop deadly bombs on the heads of the impoverished masses all over the world, but God forbid they get a glass of drinking water to hurricane-ravaged Appalachia.”
After this speech, a group of children sang a song whose title means “Give Us Our Childhood.” A 12-year old speaker then reflected on the loss of life in the Israel-Palestine war over the past year.
“For generations, our people have endured trials that would test the strongest of hearts, yet despite the pain of loss and our struggles, we rise,” the speaker said. “We rise with faith anchored in our conviction that justice will prevail. On October 7, we honor the memories of those who have been lost, cherishing their spirits as we continue their sacred struggle.”
A student granted anonymity for protection from personal retribution said the Israel-Palestine conflict is an important issue even for those not directly affected.
“The Palestinian occupation has been happening for a very, very long time, and today marks a year from what became a massive escalation, and I believe it is important for people who are otherwise unaffected and those in places where they may be physically unaffected but have family and ties to stand in solidarity about this,” the student said.
