SAN MARCOS, Texas — Students at Texas State University in San Marcos held a pro-Palestinian demonstration Monday as a rally at the University of Texas at Austin led to more arrests.
The student-led Palestine Solidarity Committee organized the rally at Texas State and drew strong support and opposition. However, officials told KVUE that it was just university police on campus and they weren't aware of any Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.
"I've noticed that Texas State does not have a very ... politically active community, especially when it comes to protests," Zayna Abdel-Rahim, an officer with the Palestine Solidarity Committee, said. "I recognize that could be due to the risk that comes with doing an event like this, but it's just important that if no one else is doing it, I think we should be doing it."
With student protesters being arrested across the country, Texas State students like Yusha Ibraheem and Allen Dominguez are outraged.
"It's disgusting, to be honest. Because on one hand, they say, you know, you have freedom of speech, and then they, on the other hand, they completely eliminate that," Ibraheem said.
"I'd say it's the police 99% of the time who are escalating these actions," Dominguez said.
Abdel-Rahim insisted there was peaceful intent behind the sit-in.
"There's no, there's no agenda, there's no politics involved. It's just what we think matters and what needs to be said," Abdel-Rahim said. "We're simply saying that we don't want to be investing in Israel as a university, as a country. We believe it's counterproductive to our broader goals as American citizens, as students."
But not all agreed with the sit-in. The event drew some objections from students, like one who lived in Israel for a year.
"We all want a ceasefire, we all want peace, we don't want anyone to die in Gaza and the West Bank and Israel," Jadyn said. "There have been tragic losses on both sides, and I think that the misconception is that Israelis don't want peace and a ceasefire."
It is a conflict with a ripple effect on the hearts and minds of those abroad and at home.
"It would be ignorant to think that this is going away any time soon because it's not. We're here. We're here to stay," Abdel-Rahim said.
KVUE asked Texas State if there would be any security changes at its graduation due to protests. The school said there are no changes planned at this time.