
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks by Hamas which sparked the recent and most devastating war in Gaza to date. Across the world, hundreds of thousands are commemorating this extremely polarizing day, including at the University of Virginia. The War in Gaza has divided UVA, with controversy, debate, and even violence erupting at the university over the past year.
Last year, after October 7th, students at UVA immediately witnessed headlines by the university branch of Students for Justice in Palestine (“SJP”) announcing support for the attacks. This statement was quickly denounced by high-ranking politicians in the state, including the then-Virginia Speaker of the House. The following months saw vigils, protests, and walkouts, culminating in an encampment this May. The encampment, set up next to the Rotunda, protested the ongoing war in Gaza and called for the disclosement of endowment investments and divestment from firms “materially supporting or profiting from Israel.” After multiple days, the encampment was dismantled by state police, with chemical irritants used and dozens of arrests.
There has been significantly less turmoil this semester than in May, although UVA was prepared for anything on the anniversary of the 10/7 attacks. Over summer, university policies were updated to fully ban encampments, due to controversy as to whether the May encampment was permitted by rules and thus unfairly dismantled.
The day of 10/7 itself saw a variety of responses, but none so dramatic as the encampment. Students painted pro-Palestinian statements on Beta Bridge, while SJP announced a vigil set for October 9th mourning lost Palestinian and Lebanese lives.
A table and photographs were set up denouncing the attacks and raising awareness for those still held in captivity by Hamas a year after being kidnapped. The night of October 7th also saw a vigil held in the Amphitheater at 7pm, with heavy police presence surrounding the area.
A year later, those impacted by October 7th and the subsequent war in Gaza stand in the wake of the fateful day which changed so many lives. Those on both sides of the conflict—and those in between—all inhabit this university, and the following months will undoubtedly see activism and debate continue at UVA.
Leave a Reply