As a member of Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land, I attended the encampment at the University of Utah this past Monday in support of our students.
As a Palestinian-American, my first assumption was that the encampment was erected in opposition to what is taking place in Gaza. However, as soon as I arrived and saw the crowd that had gathered and how diverse it was religiously, ethnically and nationality-wise, I was taken back to the sixties and the civil rights movement; the seventies and the protests against the war in Vietnam; and the eighties and the encampments against South African apartheid.
It was great to see the reincarnation of the spirit of freedom in our young students. Speakers at the U. encampment represented the environmental movement, the LGBTQIA+ movement, women’s rights, religiously devout students and dabkeh dancers, among others. These students are the living conscience of our society. They are the lanterns of light who are taking us forward to a better future and reigniting the desire for freedom, justice and equality for all. They are indeed a refreshing hope. In their faces, I could see that they are not only there for Gaza. They are there for humanity as one race, to enjoy this globe in peace and fairness, thriving on our similarities and aspirations and not on our fears and differences.
I would like to end with a passage from Khalil Gibran’s “The Prophet” as a message to our leaders who refuse to listen to the voice of reason:
Mustafa Khader, Sandy
