SJP Hosts Memorial for Gaza, Honors Lives Lost Amid Israeli Aggression

At 7:30 a.m on Monday, nearly a dozen members from the University of Florida’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) began setting up a powerful memorial at Plaza of the Americas.

The event featured 800 red, white, black and green flags, each representing a Palestinian child killed in Gaza, arranged in the shape of the Palestinian flag. Students also planted 24 martyr stories on the lawn bordering the plaza, along with three panels symbolizing the Israeli apartheid wall that separates cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from occupied Palestinian territories. These displays were crafted during a series of art builds hosted by the group.

As the typical morning traffic passed through campus, many students overlooked the sign: "In the time you walk to class a child in Gaza is killed."

These chilling statements, based on data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, highlight the staggering rate of violence in recent Israeli attacks. However, the figures do not include the thousands of children still missing or trapped beneath the rubble of Israel's ongoing devastation, or those who died from other causes related to the Zionist blockade. 

Throughout the day, nearly 100 students, faculty, and community members gathered to pay their respects, reflecting on the human toll of the violence in Gaza. The memorial served as a stark reminder of the thousands of Palestinian children who have lost their lives, and the families and friends left to mourn them. Signs, artwork, and flowers were spread across the lawn, each carrying a message of grief, resistance, and steadfastness. Attendees paused to read the stories, offer prayers, write martyrs' names, donate to Palestinian aid, or place flowers in tribute.

Coinciding with Indigenous Peoples' Day, the memorial was initially part of SJP’s “Week of Resistance,” dedicated to honoring the millions of Palestinians enduring life under Israeli occupation, as well as the 42,500+ who have been killed, 99,546+ injured, and more than 10,000 who have gone missing since the latest wave of Israeli aggression, which escalated on October 7th, 2023. This latest onslaught follows a long history of Zionist bombing campaigns, abductions, and field executions, continuing a pattern of violence against Palestinians.

In the week leading up to the memorial, close to 300 people were killed in northern Gaza alone as Israeli forces seized areas around Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, and Jabalia. Just the night before the memorial, Israeli drones massacred displaced families in tents outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, claiming the lives of at least 4 people, including 19-year-old Shaaban al-Dalou, who was still attached to an IV drip, as captured in heartbreaking video documentation.

Reflecting on a lengthy interconnected history of bloodshed and loss, one SJP member asserted, "We can't talk about indigenous people without acknowledging Palestinians. We can't talk about genocide without acknowledging the 75-plus years of continuous bombing and massacres."

She added that the world cannot bring back the martyrs, but pro-Palestinian organizations will continue fighting against complicit institutions, including the University of Florida (UF). "From Turtle Island to Palestine, Indigenous people deserve liberation."

SJP notified the UF administration of the event, reaching out to Interim President Fuchs via email after two previous attempts to make contact. To date, the students have received no response from the administration about their demands or the university's plans for security for Palestinian students on campus.

The police presence was subtly felt throughout the day, with officers patrolling the area and a police vehicle driving under Library West in front of the gathered crowd. While there was no direct interaction between police and protesters, their presence was notable.

Local sources indicated heightened concerns among law enforcement, particularly since this was SJP’s first major demonstration at Plaza of the Americas since the conclusion of the Liberation Zone in May. That occupation had protested the university's ties to companies involved in the oppression of Palestinians. However, both the Liberation Zone and the recent memorial remained peaceful, though each faced opposition from pro-Israeli students and faculty, who mocked mourners at the event.

At around 7:00 p.m., just as the evening vigil was set to begin, an unexpected but familiar disruption occurred. The sprinklers beneath the art displays suddenly turned on, drenching papers that bore names and prayers for over 1,000 Palestinian martyrs and soaking the students in attendance. Oddly, the rest of the plaza remained dry, leading many to question whether the timing was intentional. 

Despite the interruption, SJP had prepared for the unpredictability of both Florida weather and the university administration’s response. Many of the materials had been laminated, and while the splashes continued, over a dozen students stepped aside for Maghrib prayer before returning to huddle around flickering candles. Determined to continue, the vigil went on as planned, with students holding firm in their resolve.

“It was disrespectful and a clear intimidation attempt, but we kept going because this is bigger than anything that happens here. It’s about the people in Gaza and remembering them as more than numbers,” Lucy Roman, a 21-year-old anthropology student, said.

Under the watchful presence of law enforcement, Zionist protestors and negligent administration, the memorial successfully fulfilled its purpose: honoring the victims in Gaza and raising awareness of the ongoing genocide against Palestinians. SJP shared stories of nearly 30 martyrs, celebrating their lives and achievements while reaffirming their call to action. The group urged the university and its community to confront both the profound loss of life in Gaza and the broader systems of oppression that perpetuate this cycle of violence, vowing to continue showing up for liberation.