Public Story
Walkout for Palestine
Summary
Photos from walkout and protest on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus in solidarity with Palestine.
12/11/2023
Today was a national walkout across the country to show support for Palestine and continue to call attention to the genocide happening before our eyes.
“FREE FREE PALESTINE…
“FREE FREE PALESTINE”
The rally on the campus of the University of Wisconsin Madison today had another agenda item, to call on the university to divest from BlackRock, one of the world’s largest assets managers, with investments in fossil fuels and weapons manufacturing, calling for the money could be used to pay workers a living wage.
“VIVA, VIVA, PALESTINA!”
From Library Mall, where a number speakers spoke on ways in which the war on Palestine was impacting not only the people there, but on the impact around the world. They called for a walkout from school, work, and to not engage in commerce, buying things: A call akin to a wildcat strike.
“UP, UP WITH LIBERATION…
“DOWN, DOWN, WITH OCCUPATION!”
From Library Mall, the group of nearly 200 formed into a column, proceeded on the sidewalk along Langdon Street, turning left onto Park Street, crossing over and up Bascom Hill to gather again in front of Bascom Hall, administrative home to the chancellor of the university, Chancellor Mnookin.
The group was met by campus police and Christina Olstad, Dean of Students. At first the protesters were not going to be let in. In conversation with the groups police liaison, rally organizers, the Dean of Students and police, the protesters were allowed access to Bascom Hall. In an orderly and speedy manor they moved through the front doors, turned left and took up positions outside Chancellor Mnookin’s office, occupying the hall and the stairs going up nearly three-flights.
“CHANCELLOR MNOOKIN YOU CAN’T HIDE…
“WE CHARGE YOU WITH GENOCIDE!”
The peaceful yet vocal group chanted and spoke for nearly 30 minutes. With no sign from the Chancellor making an appearance, the group proceeded outside, where final pleas were made to divest, ceasefire, and end the genocide, followed by explicit declarations that voices would continue to be loud and actions would be peaceful yet disruptive, until demands were met. And with this, the group marched down Bascom Hill to where they started in Library Mall.
“GAZA, GAZA, DON’T YOU CRY…
WE WILL NEVER LET YOU DIE!!”
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