Palestinian Liberation Week: A Call to Action

Adam Shirley 

Staff Writer

It is time to take a moment to look at our world. Rather than diving into the upcoming events hosted by the Palestinian Student Association (PSA), we must acknowledge that these circumstances are not normal. We currently approach the 550th day of unrelenting bombing on Gaza. For nearly 550 days, tens of thousands of people have been massacred as people watch from their phones, infrastructure pulverized, and every school and hospital in Gaza targeted, according to the United Nations and UNICEF. Now we watch as calls to expel nearly two million Palestinians grow louder. 

These are not normal times. To discuss the ongoing genocide (a term coined by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, amongst others) as a political issue rather than a deliberate string of human rights violations is both factually inaccurate and callous. When talking about Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iran, and countries entrenched in conflict since the Nakba (mass forcible displacement of Palestinians in 1948), it is important to remember these are human beings with families, dreams, and a purpose given by God. These deaths cannot be reduced to numbers and talking points. Seton Hall has fellow students and teachers on campus from these nations. These victims have families and dreams and were created in God’s image. It is an affront to that belief to reduce the decimation of Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank to “just another story.” This has gone on for so long because we have chosen silence and complacency. 

Before speaking about our events, it is necessary to remind us that  everyday there is more. We have watched more bombing in Palestine, killing of a two-year-old in a school- turned-shelter, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, strikes in Yemen targeting a religious festival covered by the Kashmir Observer, and the toppling of an apartment complex to kill one person, as detailed in plans leaked to The Atlantic. We have a duty as Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and atheists– as Seton Hall students, and simply as good people to say this is not normal. I hope students and teachers show up throughout Palestinian Liberation Week (April 14–17) and learn more about Palestine’s ongoing struggle for freedom and justice. 

To begin Palestinian Liberation Week,  Monday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. in 

Arts & Sciences room 109. PSA will host “Purchasing and Palestine.” The event will discuss Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS), a movement calling for economic divestment from companies complicit in the occupation of Palestine. These range from weapons manufacturers to Coca-Cola, Google to McDonald’s. Join to discuss the history of BDS, how to take action with a phone app, and try sodas founded as ethical and healthier alternatives. Economic action is something everyone can do, even quietly when many are worried about unwarranted backlash. 

On Tuesday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. in Fahy room 103, PSA will show the film No Other Land.

It has recently been in the news for two reasons. First for winning “Best Documentary” at the Academy Awards, and again one of its co-directors was attacked by Israeli settlers days later, according to The Associated Press. The film focuses on life under occupation and learning that the events shown are still happening is eye-opening. “No Other Land” gives unique insight into the struggles faced by Palestinians outside Gaza, and the recent attack only proves how important this film is. This is not just a movie; it is lived resistance. Pizza and drinks will be served. 

At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 in Arts & Sciences room 109, PSA will host “Gaza’s Marketplace.” This immersive event features a recipe from Renad, a ten-year-old girl in Gaza. They will have a “grocery market” where students can witness the skyrocketing price of food. During the event, PSA will play the sound of the “zanana,” an Israeli drone that flies over Gaza. We invite students to learn what life in Gaza is really like. Free snacks and drinks will be available while supplies last. 

This week is a call to action. Come to learn and to act. Whether through sharing information, donating, organizing, or simply showing up, your presence matters. Solidarity is not passive. We must do something. 

As a Senior, I have been reflecting on my time at Seton Hall and realized my most impactful experiences happened through advocacy. I remember the nights we slept in President’s Hall for Protect the Africana Studies program and the bond we shared during that protest. Regardless of race or religion, we stood together united by our desire to support our fellow Pirates. When we finish college, the professional world will hit fast. Loans, jobs—life will absorb our time. But we must never lose our kindness, our love for one another, and our desire for freedom for all of God’s people. These are the principles Seton Hall was founded upon. 

I hope that throughout Palestinian Liberation Week, students come together in community. Palestinians are hurting and crying out for your support. The Palestinian struggle for freedom touches all of us—financially, politically, and morally. Regardless of background or politics, shared humanity should unite us in the fight for freedom and justice, from the Garden State to Gaza.

Image courtesy of Getty Images.