Pro-Palestinian rally remains peaceful on UK’s campus

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWSNOW) — Wednesday evening pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on the University of Kentucky’s campus.

“We’re here to make our voices heard and let officials at the university level, at the state and city level know that we’re here to use our voices and let them know that we won’t stand silent in the face of injustice,” student protestor Hannah Isa said.

As the war rages on between Israel and Hamas, college campuses across the United States are seeing protests, some of which turn violent. Organizers of the Solidarity for Gaza Rally say their main goal is peace.

“There’s no point in bringing anything to campus besides peace and besides any sort of demands that we had,” protestor Alyssa Rigney said.

A list of seven demands. One being UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto make a statement regarding the war.

“We condemn the universities collaboration with Kentucky State and Lexington police, and we demand that they be banned from our campus to ensure the safety of students faculty and staff,” Rigney added.

Police showed up to make sure nothing got out of hand, and everyone stayed safe, including those who opposed the protest.

“I mean they’re saying from the river to the sea, they don’t actually know what that means,” Kathy Zachem said, holding an Israeli flag. “They’re actually calling for the annihilation of Israel, everybody in their right mind knows that’s wrong.”

While both sides have their viewpoints, both do agree they don’t like seeing the killing of innocent people.

“I’m here in support of human rights and democracy, and I think we need to educate and let people know what’s going on in Gaza and Palestine because it’s really terrible. It’s a genocide,” Dr. Nadia Rasheed said.

While some held Palestinian flags or Israeli flags, others showed up holding American flags.

“I’m sure they’re free to say what they want to say, but this is America and there’s two sides to every story,” Paul Dryer said with an American flag in his hand.

Unlike the unrest seen at other college campuses across the country, there were no physical altercations, encampments or arrests reported Wednesday on the campus of the University of Kentucky.