Students and community members gathered to rally in support of Palestine in the EMU Amphitheater in conjunction with the University of Oregon’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine on Oct. 27, 2023 in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
On Friday Oct. 27 at 2 p.m, a crowd made up of primarily students and community members gathered at the Erb Memorial Union Amphitheater for a rally in support of Palestine. Around 150 people appeared to be at the event, some of which carried signs that read “Free Palestine,” “From the river to the sea,” “Zionism is antisemitism” and “Cease Fire” to name a few.
Two University of Oregon Police Department vehicles were parked nearby the event.
Some speakers called for the United States to cease its support for Israel and “defund the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]” and accused the Israeli government of carrying out a “genocidal agenda.”
One speaker, Mae Bracelin, who is Vice Chair of the UO Young Democratic Socialists of America, described the conflict as being between “Imperialist forces” and the “exploited population” in Palestine.
Bracelin said in an interview with the Emerald that “socialists have stood with Palestine for a very long time. No matter what people say about us, we will not back down or step away from this fight.”
Bracelin led the rally attendees in chants of “shame” against elected officials Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Val Hoyle and against President Joe Biden, accusing them of being complicit in Israeli actions. The crowd also chanted “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea.”
A previous “Free Palestine” rally was held in downtown Eugene last week, on Oct. 21. At the rally, a man armed with a splatter gun fired into the crowd after a protester slashed the tires on his vehicle because it was parked in front of the march. The man was later charged with menacing, disorderly conduct in the second degree and bias crime in the first degree.
The rally at the EMU amphitheater was organized by UO Students for Justice in Palestine.
