A sit-in protest took place on Fresno State’s campus today, organized by Students for Palestinian Liberation at Fresno State (SPL).
SPL President Haneen, who did not disclose her last name to the media, led the demonstration in which students held signs in support for the Palestinian people, calling for ceasefire in Gaza and for a divestment from Israel by the CSU.
The sit-in was announced through SPL’s Instagram account. Their post called for attendees to be peaceful and to not bring megaphones or speakers.
“We are here to send one powerful message as a collective,” Haneen told The Collegian. Haneen was born in Palestine and graduated from high school in Palestine.
Haneen explained that a sit-in was chosen over an encampment because they wanted to be peaceful and give students an opportunity to join the sit-in freely.
Around 250 people attended the sit-in, which included students, staff, administrators and community members.
Attendees sat in the center of the Peace Garden, holding signs and Palestinian flags. Community members were invited to speak and lead chants throughout the duration of the protest.
Students were able to publicly share how they have been personally affected by the loss of their family members in Gaza, and others shared that they have been unable to contact their family and are unsure of their safety or whereabouts.
The sit-in was attended briefly by President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, who told reporters he was there to greet his students.
“If it’s student-led, I am keen on supporting my students,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.
In an email sent out to the campus community early this morning, Jiménez-Sandoval announced a new website dedicated to informing students of their First Amendment rights.
Associated Students, Inc. President Karen Carrillo and Executive Vice President Frederick Lisitsa were also in attendance and shared their support for the campus community.
“I’m really proud of the students of this school,” Lisitsa said. “I think when you care about something that’s beyond yourself, it means the culture is evolving and changing.”
Both Carrillo and Lisitsa shared that they have been in contact with Fresno State’s administration about ways they can support students and inform them about their First Amendment rights. Carrillo said that ASI is working on creating resources to better inform students about ways they can use their voice.
“We want to ensure [assure] everyone, we support their First Amendment right and no one should infringe on that,” Carrillo said.
ASI made a post yesterday informing students about what student activism is.
Seja, a Palestinian student organizer and officer for SPL, said she was grateful for the support for the sit-in from attendees. She chose not to disclose her last name out of concern that her family may be targeted for her participation in the sit-in.
“Given the state of my family in Gaza, it is very sad and it’s very isolating,” Seja said. “So to be able to see such a large turnout here, to be able to see such a hard push in other universities, is wonderful.”
Across the nation, pro-Palestine student protests and encampments have been met with varying degrees of resistance by university administrators, with mass arrests being made at schools like University of California, Los Angeles and Columbia University.
John Beynon, an English professor at Fresno State, voiced his support for the student organizers and criticized the response from administrators at other universities who have clashed against student protestors.
“I think it’s very unfair when students are told ‘Hey, we want to help you change the world,’ and then when the students do try to make a change and they’re met with that kind of violence, that’s a slap in the face,” Beynon said.
Currently, there are no plans for additional sit-ins, Haneen said. She hopes the sit-in at Fresno State inspires students in other colleges in the Central Valley to use their voice.
“I honestly hope to see more Central Valley universities take a stance on this and be able to do organizing, even if it’s small,” Haneen said. “We all have to start somewhere.”
