Editor's note: This story was updated on 11:17 a.m. Oct. 4 to reflect an SJP press release and an email sent to faculty and staff. This story was updated on 9:24 a.m. Oct. 7 to clarify the language of Rhona Seidelman.
Almost a year after an attack by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, that killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the current war in Gaza, Students for Justice in Palestine and Oklahoma Hillels are holding vigils and protests to recognize the beginning of the conflict.
Oklahoma Hillels, a Jewish organization founded on campus, is holding a memorial vigil from noon to 2 p.m. Monday on the South Oval. The memorial is in partnership with Chabad of Norman, the Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies and StandWithUs.
Kasi Shelton, executive director of Oklahoma Hillels, wrote in an email to OU Daily the memorial vigil will give the OU community an opportunity to come together to pray for the safe return of the hostages in Gaza and honor those who lost their lives on Oct. 7.
“October 7 is now a day of mourning and a way to help ensure that the stories and lives of those we lost will never be forgotten,” Shelton wrote.
SJP announced its “Week of Rage” to be held Monday through Thursday. To kick off the week of events, the organization is hosting a vigil at 7 p.m. Monday on the South Oval.
In a press release, SJP wrote that the week of resistance was planned to raise awareness on and call for the end of the Israeli assault on and occupation of Palestine.
"The situation in Gaza is dire and worsening," the press release read. "Israel has completely destroyed Gaza’s medical infrastructure, created conditions which have allowed for disease and epidemic outbreaks, and continued daily bombing of Gaza, leaving Palestinians with no safe zone and no way to live."
In the release, SJP reaffirmed its year-long demand for the university to divest from corporate partners involved in the war in Gaza.
"OU SJP calls on the University of Oklahoma and the community to take immediate action by supporting the Palestinian cause and pushing for divestment from entities complicit in this genocide," the release read.
Rhona Seidelman, director of the Schusterman Center, wrote in an email to the OU Daily that she will consider SJP’s demands of the university as being in good faith when they do not focus solely on the one Jewish state in the world.
“The fact that SJP has decided to hold their Week of Rage to coincide with our own time of mourning shows us exactly who this organization is,” Seidelman wrote. “Make no mistake about what they are doing: spreading Hamas propaganda, harassing and promoting violence against Jews and Israelis on our campus.”
In a message to OU Daily, SJP wrote the organization was not aware of any planned vigils when it released the Week of Rage schedule. It also wrote the organization has no interest in harassing other members of the OU community.
”On the contrary, we’ve had pro-Israel professors continuously harass our students. Going so far as to approach students off campus and berate them,” SJP wrote.
SJP is organizing a walkout and picket at 10 a.m. Wednesday outside Dale Hall. In the post, the organization encourages students to skip class and professors to cancel their classes for the morning. SJP has previously held events like this including a rally on Sept. 12 at the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
SJP is also holding two educational events, including a teach-in on intifadas at 7 p.m. Tuesday and a screening of the documentary “Born in Gaza” at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in Dale Hall 122.
On Oct. 4 Institutional Equity Officer Marci Gracey sent an email to OU faculty and staff provided advice about safety concerns faculty and students may have.
"Faculty who also are concerned for their safety on campus or have been adversely impacted by the planned expressive activities may make a short term pivot to online instruction, but should continue instructional activities next week," the email read.
The email advised any individuals who feel they have been threatened harassed or adversely impacted should referred to the Institutional Equity Office for resources and supportive measures.
Kesha Keith, director of strategic initiatives for student affairs, wrote in an email to OU Daily that the Campus Emergency Response Team will monitor both events on Monday, as well as coordinate with the OU police department to ensure students keep their freedom of expression while minimizing disruption.
“OU is committed to upholding free speech while ensuring student support for a safe campus environment,” Keith wrote. “CERT will be activated as necessary to achieve this balance.”
Keith said CERT will evaluate the need for attendance at the rest of SJP’s events based on the size of the event and the disruption it may cause to campus life.
On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked southern Israel, reportedly killing around 1,400 people and kidnapping over 200 others. Israel later revised the death toll to around 1,200.
Since then, Israel has occupied the Gaza Strip for nearly a year. According to The Associated Press, 40,000 Palestinians have been killed as of August.
SJP’s first protest against the war in Gaza was held in October 2023, when around 150 students walked out of class, carried signs and chanted down the South Oval to Evans Hall with calls for OU to divest from weapons manufacturers.
In March, SJP held a protest against the war in Gaza in the Oklahoma Memorial Union food court, attracting over 150 student protesters. Pro-Israel counter-protesters attended the rally after OU College Republicans Chair Anthony Diulio and professor Gary Barksdale sent a mass email advertising a counter-protest.
At a May Day rally in late spring, the SJP and the Student Socialist League rallied with over 100 protesters on the South Oval. Speakers protested Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s dissolution of DEI in higher education and the closure of OU’s Gender + Equality Center. Protesters also demanded divestment from OU’s corporate partners, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ana Barboza. Kylie Caldwell and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
