Texas A&M students gathered outside of Rudder Plaza, continuing to protest for the divestment of funds from companies and organizations with ties to Israel.
On May 7 from 5:30-8 p.m., Aggies Against Apartheid organized the protest as part of a national movement in support of Palestine. The protest also denounced Israel’s offensive on Rafah.
Protesters also denounced President Joe Biden and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for their support of Israel. The coalition also announced its stance in solidarity with other universities in Texas that have had students protesting, including the University of North Texas, University of Texas, A&M-Corpus Christi campus and University of Texas at Dallas.
The group marched from Rudder Plaza to the Academic Plaza where they expressed their sentiments on A&M’s partnerships with Israeli-affiliated corporations, then to the Liberal Arts and Humanities building where they sat and held a “Muster” recognizing the Palestinian casualties. The group then circled back to Rudder Plaza, concluding the march.
One of the coalition’s organizers, History senior Aidan McPhail, said the main goal of this protest is to get A&M to divest from companies that are profiting off the conflict.
“We’re trying to get A&M to hopefully put more money in local-based movements and groups like the 12th Can, which feeds 400 Aggies every two weeks and they could do so much more if they had more funding,” McPhail said. “I feel it would be more productive for the university to put that money into local things that directly benefit both Aggies and community members rather than those who are already making billions of dollars.”
Specifically with this protest, McPhail said the goal is to keep those that are engaged with the cause.
“I think that momentum is important to remind the university we’re still here,” McPhail said. “The main goal of the summer is to keep student engagement and keep them engaged with community members and local businesses and religious institutions to show the university it’s not just an on-campus issue, but it’s an issue for everyone regardless of their status as a student.”
McPhail said Aggies Against Apartheid has continued coordinating with university administration.
“We’ve been coordinating with the university administration for everything so we can avoid some of the violent repression that other universities have faced, so the university knows we’re not trying to fight against them, and that we are trying to work with them,” McPhail said.
Richard Hansen • May 10, 2024 at 4:34 pm
So sad that these people don’t understand that Israel is not the problem. Do some research folks so you can at least take part in an informed discussion.
Richard Horn • May 10, 2024 at 3:33 pm
This is where colleges have failed. These kids don’t know history and have never tried. They have been given what liberal professors have taught them. I think this is atrocious, and I believe if you asked any of these students protesting, they couldn’t answer a single history lesson. If you don’t know it, you’re doomed to repeat it.
Sam Myers ‘89 • May 10, 2024 at 3:08 pm
The only genocide affiliated with this most recent version of a longstanding conflict occurred on October 7, 2023 with the terrorist organization HAMAS breaking the ceasefire and indiscriminately slaughtering 1,163 innocent Israeli’s in a sneak attack.
Had this attack not occurred everyone, ON BOTH SIDES of the conflict, would be alive today.
Israel has a right to not only exist but to defend itself which includes eliminating the imminent threat that still exists in Gaza – the difference being Israel attempts to spare innocents. This is made more difficult by the terrorists who live amongst civilians.
Every single death starting October 7th to today is the responsibility of HAMAS.
Moth • May 10, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Why are these Antisemite fascist wearing masks? Why aren’t there people counter protesting those Jew haters? What a joke TAMU has become.
Angie • May 10, 2024 at 11:11 am
Did anyone read out the names of the Israeli victims? Just wondering if their deaths meant anything to these protesters. Maybe they could start with the babies and children’s names or the elderly. The fact that the initial attack was against civilians, families just going about their daily routine speaks volumes. Do they realize that Hamas used their own people as human shields? I don’t know what the solution is but you can’t disregard the fact that Hamas attacked first.
Michael Taglienti ‘98 • May 9, 2024 at 7:14 am
Is McPhail confused about what an endowment is for? The endowment is supposed to make money do it can help pay the expenses of the system. It is not a charitable fund.
It is disappointing that a history major is so confused about the history of the Palestinians. Perhaps someone should show him the pictures of the Israeli victims on October 7 so he will comprehend why Hamas must be defeated.