Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) kicked off its Week of Rage on Monday with a table in the HUB-Robeson Center expressing frustration over several ceasefire violations from Israel.
Roua Daas, one of the founding members of SJP, helped organize the week of events, including protests and community building.
“We are here as students to say that it is unacceptable that this is still happening,” Daas, a graduate student studying clinical psychology and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, said.
Daas also said the university’s partnership with companies that contribute to and profit off of war, like Lockheed Martin, is unacceptable.
Daas witnessed firsthand the impact the war had on her family. In 1967, her family was displaced from their home, and despite international law, Israel refuses to allow refugees to return.
“I grew up really materially feeling the impacts of what it means to have your land taken from you,” Dass said. “I wanted to do something about it — I wanted to start an organization that would… be part of the change so that the future generations don't have to live through the things that we have lived through.”
SJP gained attention through a memorial on Oct. 10 that involved planting 18,600 flags on the HUB lawn,with each flag representing 10 Palestinians who died in the conflict. The memorial was defaced by pro-Israel students.
“This was something that shocked campus,” Daas said. “What we, as an organization, tried to communicate to the rest of campus is that this is what Zionism as an ideology is. This is a direct consequence of believing in an ideology that advocates for the colonization and genocide of indigenous peoples.”
SJP hosts multiple teach-ins on topics related to Egypt and Lebanon, along with general discussions and social events aimed at fostering a sense of community around a singular cause: the liberation of Palestine, Daas said.
Sarah Dweik, an executive board member, shared a similar experience of her family's displacement in 1953, which forced them to move to Egypt.
Dweik, graduate student studying communication arts and sciences, said this motivated her to join SJP to raise awareness of how Palestine's struggle is connected to global movements for liberation.
“As Palestinians, we have been angry for a long time,” Dweik said. “We’ve inherited that from seeing the continuing decimation of our land, the murder of our people, the desecration of our religious and cultural places. Our anger is like that fuel and that spark we can use to create change.”
Historically, student organizations like these have made an impact, she said. Penn State was among the few universities to divest from South Africa before the United States did.
“It's really cool that we get to participate in that legacy here, but then also get to be part of a bigger movement that is all fighting towards the same goal,” Dweik said.
Nora, an SJP executive board member who wished to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, is from Jenin, which is currently under attack by Israel.
“Anyone that believes in Palestinian liberation can join our e-board,” Nora, a graduate studying engineering, said. “It's not just Palestinians, but it's people who believe in Palestinian liberation to the sea and following the principles and points of unity of the Palestinian cause.”
SJP not only organizes protests and informational sessions but also collaborates with other marginalized groups on campus, such as the Penn State Student Black Caucus.
“Having unity, having solidarity is very important in organizing,” Nora said.
Nora’s advice for students is to get organized and find their community because SJP can’t do it alone. She said students are capable of tangible change.
“Listen to the oppressed people,” Nora said. “Rather than people who are imposing propaganda for you.”
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