"We need to come back stronger than last year," said one student speaker, who identified herself only as Zainab. She spoke from a makeshift stage, standing in front of banners decorated in the colors of the Palestinian flag - black, red, white and green - that read, "There is no justice without freedom for Palestine." Her call to action reflected the determination of students to maintain momentum in their activism despite the university's regulations.
At UC Berkeley, roughly 200 students converged on Sproul Plaza, a central gathering spot that last spring was the site of a sprawling encampment... The protesters did not flout UC's systemwide rules banning encampments and the blocking of walkways. But they made it clear they intend to keep their opposition to the war in Gaza and concerns about the plight of Palestinians front and center in the new school year.
For 90 minutes, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and joined in chants accusing Israel of apartheid. Featured speakers spoke out against the violence in Gaza and accused President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of genocide for not cutting off aid to Israel.
The coordinated rallies at various universities signal a renewed vigor among pro-Palestinian student groups, emphasizing solidarity and a commitment to raising awareness about ongoing events in Gaza, despite the universities' strict adherence to regulations aimed at preventing campus disruptions.
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