By Aliah Tubbs
Students at Riverside City College attended a Peaceful Student Rally for Palestine in support of Palestinians on Tuesday, May 7 in the Arthur G. Paul Quadrangle on campus held by Inland Empire Against Empire.
“We called on students, faculty, admin, anybody willing to come,” said the media representative, Marcy, who declined to be identified. “We’re trying to establish a presence of students on campus that are supportive of the Palestinian people, bring awareness to the genocide.”
Many protestors declined to give their full name.
Inland Empire Against Empire organized the event and announced the protocols and rules of the rally. They also had a media representative and a police negotiator in attendance.
At the start of the rally, Juno explained a few rules and how to be safe so the rally could be executed smoothly.
There were multiple students and organizers explaining their thoughts on the events happening in Palestine.
Another demand was that RCC should disclose all institutional investments and funding and that the administration should become allies to the movement for Palestine.
They also wanted RCC to commit to protecting Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and other students and faculty whose voices are being suppressed.
“We wanted this to be a wakeup call to the school and a call to accept our demands for divestment of funds,” Marcy said. “I mean, we are a Pepsi campus and Pepsi is complicit in genocide.”
There were also a few faculty members supporting the cause as well.
“We’re here as observers in the gathering that the community is supporting,” Riverside City College President Claire Oliveros said. “I would be happy to meet with organizers to learn more about what the demands are.”
One other demand was that RCC should call for a cease fire and express solidarity with students protesting the genocide around the globe, including UCR and Cal Poly Humboldt.
Also in attendance were several members of RCC’s Board of Trustees including Bill Hedrick.
“I think it’s important that students have an opportunity to peacefully explain their opinions,” Hedrick said. “I think overall it is a positive thing and frankly, I am pleased to see a level of student activism that has not existed in the U.S for many years.”
