Oregon Peace Institute Stands in Support of Nonviolent Student Protests for Gaza Ceasefire and Divestment from War Industry

Last updated on April 29, 2024

OREGON – The Oregon Peace Institute promotes peace, education, and nonviolent conflict resolution in various contexts. We stand in solidarity with the nonviolent student protests calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza and urging universities to divest from the war industry.

Students across the nation have organized encampments on university campuses, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from entities involved in or profiting from the genocide. Nonviolent protest is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for social change. Disruptive by nature, protests serve as a vital mechanism for expressing dissent and demanding justice.

Protests have historically catalyzed transformative change, as evidenced by the successful divestment campaigns against apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. In the current context, the government of Israel is conducting a genocidal war against Gaza; these demonstrations not only raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis but also present tangible steps for institutional reform. By advocating for divestment from entities complicit in violence and oppression, students are actively shaping a more just and peaceful future.

We reject misleading narratives propagated by some mainstream media outlets, which portray these student protests as violations of policies, acts of trespassing, conduits for hate and antisemitism, or “raging antisemitic hate from [the] unhinged mob” as depicted by Fox News. Although instances of antisemitism may occur during protests, often instigated by external agitators, it is imperative to recognize that the core motivations of these demonstrations are not antisemitic. Any occurrences of antisemitism should be condemned and separated from the protests. Rather, we should focus on supporting those organizers whose efforts center on nonviolence and aim to draw people in. As stated by the student organizers, these protests are disruptive yet nonviolent expressions of opposition to the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, which they deem genocidal, and calls for accountability from their respective academic institutions.

The use of militarized police force against peaceful protesters is unjustifiable. University administrators must safeguard their students and refrain from calling for state violence to suppress dissent. Urging the National Guard to clear campuses is dangerous. It has a tragic precedent, as on May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard killed four and injured nine unarmed college students who were protesting against the Vietnam War on the Kent State University Campus.

Instead of escalating tensions, we urge universities to engage constructively with the protesting students, refrain from threats to their academic status, and, when necessary, employ nonviolent de-escalation and accompaniment tactics, such as the ones provided by the Portland Peace Team or other domestic peace teams to address tensions. In doing so, they have a better chance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all students on their campuses, especially those who face threats or intimidation coming from a place of antisemitism or Islamophobia.

The Oregon Peace Institute stands in solidarity with the students leading these nonviolent protests and calls upon universities to heed their demands for justice, accountability, and peace.

Oregon Peace Institutes Board of Directors