I am grateful that the great majority of people weighing in around the world are in support of American university student protests of the Palestinian genocide and siege by the Israeli government. It gives me hope. Hard to understand why anyone would chastise some of the best and brightest of our youth for their peaceful protest of war crimes taking place in Palestine. Not unlike what we’ve seen several times over the past century – from Civil Rights protests in the 60’s, to Vietnam and anti-Apartheid in South Africa in the 60’s and 70’s. The Black Lives Matter movement and student-led protests in 2014. The Kent State ‘massacre,’ as it was called, back in 1970 – related to the US invasion of Cambodia after then-president Nixon promised to end the war. And who can forget the non-violent student protests, Spring of 1989, in Tiananmen Square, Dongcheng China when the one man stood his ground to a row of tanks brought in by the corrupt People’s Liberation Party government.

And what did these and the many other student-led protests have in common? Several things. First, they all started as peaceful, civil acts of protest – a basic human right, and one that is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the constitution here in the US. (Which includes freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully assemble.) And the root, the student protests were for basic human freedom. Freedom from war, freedom from oppression and captivity. Freedom to move around and be treated with dignity and equal human rights, with access to land, food and water on equal footing with others, regardless of color of one’s skin or their religious beliefs.

The sad irony of much of what we see happening in Gaza and greater Palestine, brought on by the zealots in the IDF and Israeli leadership, has happened to their forefathers several generations ago in Nazi Germany. And it’s been asked since then, “Could that happen today? ” And we’ve answered, “Absolutely not!” Sadly, “never again” is happening again.

The peaceful protests with students at their root give me hope. Hope that the US universities (and government) wake up and distance themselves from the wanton actions of the criminal Israeli government – and insist that they be held to account for their actions. Demand immediate cease fire and insist that all human life matters and that 35,000 civilian deaths are not acceptable collateral damage.