UCSB students take part in walk out and pro-Palestinian rally

ISLA VISTA, Calif. – Pro-Palestinian supporters called on UCSB students, teachers, workers and researchers to walk out of class on May Day.

Hundreds chanted "Free Palestine, free Palestine" as they marched from the engineering building to the library and beyond.

Some of the participants said they chose May Day to show their solidarity with Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions.

Many chanted about the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea as they rallied.

Those words have been used by terrorist groups, but students protesting called their chants anti-war., rather than antisemitic.

"We're just calling for the Freedom of Palestinian people, and there are Jewish Palestinian people, Muslim Palestinian people, Christian Palestinian people, and it's very important to keep that in mind," said Mohammed Rehman.

The engineering student said he is proud of his school and community for stepping up.

"One of our biggest focuses is divestment, obviously, divestment from all the arms companies that fund genocide in Palestine," said Rehman.

He said it is a misconception to think they are calling for ethnic cleansing or violence against Jewish people.

"They call for the liberation and freedom and the equal rights of Palestinians."

Many believes those in the territories are living under Apartheid rule.

Student, camping on the lawn near the library, said the U.S. Department of Defense that sends weapons and aid to Israel also funds military research on University of California campuses.

Many set up tents before dawn.

They are calling for collective liberation.

"We believe in a free Palestine, a free Congo, a free Haiti, a free Sudan," said Lexi L.

She is aware Vietnam protests took place on the same campus years ago.

"I know that at UCSB, during the Vietnam War, when they were protesting, they burned down a Bank of America, "said Lexi L. "I am not going to say we are here to burn buildings, but we are here to make noise, we are here to make it known that student voices need to be heard, and we didn’t consent to be complicit in genocide."

She wore a COVID mask and chose not to give her entire last name.

Ericka B. agreed.

"I want the UC to divest and disclose their involvement in Palestine and their participation in displacement of people."

The 21-year-old said she wants protesters to be respected.

"My other goal here is to change the rhetoric as how students are portrayed as protestors,"

Students saw fire trucks drive by a few times, rather than the UCSB foot patrol officers.

The only tense moment in the afternoon occurred when a man, who is not a UCSB student, showed up in an Israeli Defense Force t-shirt. 

"Hamas has all the power," said Sergiy Tarasenki.

"They could end the war like that," he said as he snapped his fingers.

He said he was studying law in Santa Barbara.

Jewish students watched from a distance.  

"It is their right to voice their opinions and I stand that it is their right to," said Malcom Brabec, "Do I think they are doing it in a manner conclusive to actual discussion? No!"

Many of the students at the campground will be graduating next month and hope the activism doesn’t interfere with their ceremonies.

In the meantime, they want their voices heard.