Campus Activism: The Rise of the Student Movement Advocating for Gaza and Evergreen State College’s Divestment Decision

The student movement advocating for Gaza has been making waves on campuses across the country, with demonstrations occurring at over 154 institutions. One such institution is The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, which has recently agreed to divest from companies that profit from human rights violations in Palestinian territories. This decision sets the college apart as one of the few schools to respond to student protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

On a recent episode of Intercepted, politics reporter Prem Thakker from The Intercept discussed the campus protests and the students’ demands for institutions to sever financial connections with Israel and weapons manufacturers. Gillian Goodman, a freelance writer and journalism graduate student at Columbia University, shared her experience at the protest encampment at Columbia. Despite inspiring similar events nationwide, this demonstration was ultimately dismantled by the police.

The Evergreen State College’s decision to divest from companies profiting from human rights violations in Palestinian territories is a significant step towards addressing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. As more students and institutions take action against Israel’s actions, it is clear that this issue will continue to be a major concern for many people around the world.