Pro-Palestinian students gathered outside the UWM Welcome Center to protest the Israel-Palestine conflict as Vice President Kamala Harris visited campus on Oct. 17. Students convened at 9 a.m. to organize and walk toward the Lubar Entrepreneurship/Welcome Center where Harris eventually spoke to a business class and took part in a meet-and-greet. Along the way, there were some cheers from passersby and cars honked horns as the protestors went by. Once at the planned protest spot, which was across the street from the Welcome Center, everyone began chanting.
Chants Included: “From the river to the sea, Palestine must be free.” “UWM you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide.” “End the Zionist occupation, we demand liberation” “Israel bombed USA paid, how many kids have you killed today?” “MPD, KKK, IOF they’re all the same”
Brian Stover, a Milwaukee resident, watched the protests unfold and had no issue with them as long as they stayed peaceful. There was heavy police and secret service presence with snipers camped out on the top of the Welcome Center and some surrounding school buildings. Stover understood that Harris was trying to reach student voters but didn’t appreciate the chaos the visit stirred. “I don’t like that it’s disrupting everything here,” Stover said, “Like the buses can’t get through, and it’s causing a little bit of turmoil for the campus.” Soon after arriving the protestors moved close to the building, crossing the street, and planting their feet on a patch of grass out front. This is where they remained throughout the VP’s visit, even after the police built a barricade of officers around them.
Click to continue readingSource:The UWM Post, 10/20/2024