Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Commemorate Anniversary of Attacks

Pro-Palestinian student organizations across the U.S. held overnight vigils on Tuesday, honoring what they referred to as “martyrs” while rallying against Israel on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Campus groups, many of which collaborate with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), promoted events marking the tragic day when Hamas militants killed 1,200 civilians, and took 251 hostages in Israel. Notably, the SJP has previously described this act as a “historic victory.”

In a promotional post for the “Rage & Resistance Rally,” the Philadelphia SJP Coalition referred to the attackers as “martisans.” Their message highlighted that October 7 marks two years since “Palestinian resistance fighters” emerged from Israeli prisons, hinting at a shift in Gaza’s governance.

Other SJP chapters echoed similar sentiments. The University of California, Davis celebrated what they termed “glory to all maritalists,” while Stanford University announced an event “in honor of martial artists.” Additionally, other groups, including the Palestinian Youth Movement and Muslim Student Association, organized a gathering titled “All-nighting for Our Martialists.”

Requests for comments from various SJP chapters, including those from Philadelphia, UC Davis, and Stanford, went unanswered. The SJP at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill also did not respond.

Earlier this year, a lawsuit claimed that some campus groups, including Columbia SJP, had prior knowledge of the October 7 attacks and held violent rallies in support of terrorist entities. The lawsuit claims that Columbia SJP posted an announcement a mere three minutes before Hamas initiated the attack, suggesting pre-awareness of the impending violence.

Moreover, SJP’s toolkit reportedly praised Hamas’ actions after October 7, framing the concept of “resistance” as morally necessary. They encouraged students to view this resistance as justified and deserving of support.

Another organization, known as WOL, also planned events centered around this anniversary, calling for solidarity with Gaza and the commemoration of its “martialists.” They claimed that these actions are necessary for what they describe as Palestine’s liberation from Israeli control.

Requests for comment from both the national SJP organization and WOL were not returned.