Tuesday Protest for Palestine at University of Alabama Stays Small, Peaceful

A Tuesday afternoon protest on the Quad at the University of Alabama in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid increasing bloodshed in the Middle East remained small and peaceful.

A small crowd of students and local activists gathered in front of Denny Chimes, where they repeated many of the grievances aired in May before students left Tuscaloosa for Summer Break during a larger, more tense protest.

Tuesday's crowd was smaller and drew a smaller group of counter-protestors, and each side generally stuck to their roped-off sections of the Quad. A highly visible contingent of University of Alabama Police officers served as a quiet but clear deterrent to the kind of escalating tensions and violence that have plagued similar protests on other college campuses in the last year.

Get our free mobile app

The protestors take issue with Israel's aggressive answer to the attack against their nation in October of last year, which saw more than 1,200 people killed and another 250 abducted as hostages.

Some figures say more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then. Another 500 have died in Lebanon this week as Israel conducts strikes there.

Specifically, the students take issue with the University of Alabama's ties with Lockheed Martin, who manufactures military aircraft including the BLACK HAWK helicopter, F-16 fighters, C-130J Super Hercules and many more.

Former Lockheed CEO Marilyn Hewson grew up in Tuscaloosa and earned two degrees from the University of Alabama. She has donated more than $20 million to the Culverhouse College of Business, where Hewson Hall is named in her honor.

Protestors call for UA to cut ties with Lockheed Martin and rename the building.

Counterprotesters mostly shouted things their mothers would not want to see reprinted here and left when they got bored.

A University of Alabama spokesperson issued a statement after the protest ended peacefully, thanking students for their responsibility.

"The University of Alabama is committed to free and open inquiry and expression for members of the University campus community. As part of this commitment, UA encourages responsible deliberation and debate on campus and facilitates numerous opportunities for members of our community to express differing points of view," UA said. "Protests were held on campus today by groups with opposing viewpoints, and the University appreciates that attendees followed campus policy and exercised their free speech rights with no disruptions. University staff and UAPD were on-site and shared expectations and guidance for a responsible, peaceful event. Activities and events on campus, including protests, must comply with applicable laws and University policies. Support and resources have been made available to students and groups who have expressed concern, and those resources remain available."

For more coverage of events in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.