Both anti and pro-Israeli demonstrators curse Joe Biden at University of Alabama, loud chants break out at protest site

A viral video shows the two groups chanting together even as they are separated by roped barriers

Published on: May 2, 2024, 16:51:00 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Both anti and pro-Israeli protesters came together at University of Alabama on Wednesday, May 1, chanting “fu** Joe Biden.” A video posted by Maven Navarro, the editor-in-chief of University of Alabama's student-run publication The Crimson White, shows the two groups chanting together even as they are separated by roped barriers.

Both anti and pro-Israeli demonstrators curse Joe Biden at University of Alabama (@MavenNavarro1/X)

Protest at University of Alabama

On Wednesday, May 1, a group of students at the University of Alabama gathered on campus to protest in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The protest was led by student organisers and the UA Leftist Collective. They reportedly protested the University's relationship with the Department of Defense and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

"As students of the University of Alabama, we can no longer stand by in silent complicity as our institution funds a state-sponsored massacre of Palestinians," organisers said in a news release, according to WVTM 13.

"A 2022 audit revealed that the Board of the University of Alabama received $10.4 million that year in funding from the Department of Defense," the release added. "UA also has a very close relationship with Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor that has supplied Israel with fighter jets, Hellfire missiles, and other weapons that are currently being used to slaughter Palestinians. In 2018, UA received $15 million in stock from Marillyn Hewson, the then-CEO of Lockheed. UA is listed as a partner university of the company, and it allows Lockheed to hold recruiting events on campus."

Several students gathered at the university's Student Center Plaza, holding signs and chanting. "Both sides should be able to agree on a ceasefire," student Connor Todd said. "The killing needs to stop. Right now, there's not room for that type of dialogue between these two sides. They're partitioned and they're yelling at each other so I would say there is room but it's not exactly going to happen right here."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More