Another group is hosting a vigil for Palestine in Oxford, but this time it will be held at City Hall.
The event is tentatively scheduled for 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at City Hall on The Square in Oxford.
“Join community members in remembrance of the Palestinian lives lost in the Israeli-United States genocide against Palestine,” said a press release sent out by Aala’a Matalgah, a graduate assistant at Ole Miss. “Community members of Oxford MS will gather for a vigil on Sunday, October 20th to honor the taken lives of the martyrs of Gaza and the resilience of those who continue to fight for the liberation and freedom of Palestine.”
Matalgah said the event does have a permit, it is being sponsored by her and some of her friends and she urged people to come out and see and hear their concerns. Matalgah did not say if there would be security at the event.
The Oxford Police Department confirmed the event had a permit and police would provide security.
The permit was on the agenda of the Oxford City Board meeting Tuesday night.
The University of Mississippi Campus was the scene of a pro-Palestinian protest on May 2 that garnered nationwide coverage after students at the school protested that protest. That event got out of hand as counter-protesters quickly outnumbered pro-Palestinian protesters who were the target of thrown objects, curses and racial slurs.
“The lives of the Palestinian martyrs will not be in vain,” said Duaa Matalga, event organizer. “We will not stop fighting for a liberated Palestine."
The press release said, “At this vigil, members of different parts of the Oxford community will come together to show support, solidarity, and love for the Palestinian people, and will use this event to spread accurate information on the Gaza genocide and hold space for community members to honor the lives of all Palestinians. These members will be demanding our governing bodies to stop all aid to the Israeli government and to end the genocide on the Palestinian people now.”
This spring protests broke out at colleges across the country protesting the war in the Middle East.
The war in Gaza and along Israel’s border with Lebanon has become a political hot-potato in this year’s 2024 Presidential election.
Democrats are divided over the issue with some supporting Israel and other supporting Palestinians. Vice President, and Presidential Candidate, Kamala Harris’ official Democratic Party website does not address the issue. Harris most recently said the death of Hama leader Yahya Sinway gives an opportunity for a ceasefire. President Joe Biden has said he supports Israel, but is also working for a ceasefire and relief for Gaza.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump has also not said much about his views on the war in the Middle East, but he did implement pro-Israel policies while he was president, such as the annexation of the Golan Heights and the country’s capital as Jerusalem.
