In recent times, students across Canada have risen in solidarity with the people of Gaza, vocalizing their dissent against the silence of their educational institutions amidst the escalating humanitarian crisis. The University of Alberta, recognized as one of Canada’s top five universities, which was at the forefront of recognizing and supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia, witnessed a stirring protest last week. The demonstration was notable for its diversity, with many non-Arab and non-Muslim students joining in the march for Gaza. There was a sprinkling of Sikh students too. The collective demand was for Israel to “Cease Fire Now” and for the Canadian government to withdraw its support for what the students labeled as Israel’s acts of aggression. WSN Canada Desk reports.

Young students, a mosaic of different ethnicities, unified by a common cause, participated in a student walkout, echoed the sentiments of a Palestinian student whose family home in Gaza had been targeted multiple times over the years. This student, symbolically eschewing a mask, declared his face a representation of those who could not conceal their identities, those who were victims because of their identities. His speech was a poignant reminder of the grave existential threat faced by entire bloodlines in Gaza.

Among the academic voices in the crowd was Professor Ghada Ageel from the University of Alberta’s Political Science department. Having recently chronicled the loss of 36 family members in Gaza in The Guardian, her presence underscored the stark reality of the situation. A Sikh student who studied under her told WSN, “I do not have the courage to see her. Such a nice teacher, and such a great human being. What a gigantic tragedy to lose 36 family members in one go. May God be with her.”

The peaceful rally amplified the urgent calls from the international community for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. As articulated in the rallying cry by Chantelle Chornohus from the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, “This walkout is to support the call for an immediate ceasefire and put pressure on our administration and government to support their constituents by echoing this call on a larger scale.”

This event stands not only as a demonstration for peace but also as a testament to the students’ resolve to influence policy and incite action against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis with no end in sight.

This demonstration by the students of the University of Alberta, challenging both their university’s and the Canadian government’s stance on Gaza, is a clear condemnation of the support that Canada has extended to Israel. The students’ defiant and forthright stand against the ongoing attacks on Gaza’s children, women, and civilians represents a notable shift in the dialogue around the crisis, one that they hope will lead to substantive change.

Significantly, the indigenous student community also lent their voices to the cause. They drew parallels between the colonial history of their land and the plight of the Palestinians, using the slogan “Treaty 6 to Palestine, occupation is a crime.” The sincerity of the land acknowledgment given at the protest was highlighted as being more heartfelt than those heard within university halls, emphasizing a connection between the indigenous struggles in Canada and the Palestinian fight for their homeland.

The student body’s appeal was clear: they urged the University and the Students’ Union to publicly endorse the ‘Cease Fire’ initiative. They called upon the institution to extend the same support to Palestinian students as it had to Ukrainian students, pointing to a discrepancy in aid that contradicted the university’s professed values of equality and social change.

The Sikh community’s involvement, albeit in small measure, in the protest was definitely welcome.

The Sikh community’s involvement, albeit in small measure, in the protest is a testament to their long-standing commitment to human rights. Historically, Sikhism has advocated for justice and compassion, and their participation in the protests reflects these core values. Their presence, alongside other communities, sent a powerful message of interfaith solidarity and the universal pursuit of humanitarian justice.

Taking a bold approach, the students called for a boycott of multinational corporations like Starbucks, Disney, and McDonald’s, correlating their consumption to the indirect support of the violence in Gaza.

Everyone joined in a collective ‘Dua’ (prayer) for Palestine, a spiritual moment that encapsulated the shared hope for peace and the end of suffering in Gaza.

The University of Alberta’s commendable commitment to supporting Ukrainian students amidst the harrowing Russian invasion stands in stark contrast to the silence regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

The University of Alberta’s commendable commitment to supporting Ukrainian students amidst the harrowing Russian invasion stands in stark contrast to the silence regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza. While President Bill Flanagan has proactively announced up to a million dollars in aid, highlighting the university’s historical ties with the Ukrainian community and the presence of the Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies, a similar sense of urgency is conspicuous by its absence.

This dichotomy presents an irony not lost on those who observe the situation. On one hand, the institution is extending considerable resources to expedite applications and cover living costs for Ukrainian students, a gesture that embodies the values of support and global citizenship. Yet, on the other hand, the silence on Gaza—where the term ‘genocide’ has been invoked by its student body—calls into question the consistency of such values when applied to different regions undergoing conflict.

The plight of Palestinian students and the broader community in Gaza seems to warrant a comparable level of attention and support, yet this has not been forthcoming. The university’s decisive action for Ukrainian students serves as a precedent for the kind of solidarity and assistance that could be offered to other communities in distress. The disparity in response thus prompts a reflection on the principles of equality and impartial support in times of crisis, and on how an academic institution can align its actions with its stated commitment to global humanitarian efforts.