A week before their Thanksgiving break, Fresno City College (FCC) students organized an “End the Genocide” demonstration and rally where they walked through campus holding up signs that read “Free Palestine” and “Arms Embargo Now,” among others.
After walking through campus, the group of about a dozen students (and one mom) formed a circle around the fountain at the college’s center and chanted in unison: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Biden, Biden what do you say, how many kids did you kill today?”
The students were prohibited from using a megaphone by college officials, but that didn’t hamper their resolve. They raised their voices loud as they competed with the sound of buzzing generators from the many food trucks nearby.
“Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?” They continued, “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes.”
“I feel a sense of pride in my fellow students—it gives me hope,” said forestry student Arion Grajeda about the turnout.” Grajeda, who identifies as “Chicano, a Mexican-American,” sees a connection with Palestinians.
“I think it is quite simple,” he said, “particularly Mexican-Americans in the Southwest have faced a lot of displacement…Palestinians and Mexican-Americans are both people who have faced displacement at the hands of imperialist states.”
Grajeda is actively involved in FCC’s MEChA chapter. “MEChA is the Chicano student movement,” he says. “We are a political activist group with chapters all over the nation…
“We are fighting for the liberation of brown people all over the world, educating our brown communities and advocating for higher learning.”
The rally was organized by a part-time undeclared major, Dante Mendoza, and a fellow student, Octavio. Mendoza, wearing the black-and-white keffiyeh that’s become synonymous with Palestinians, had a sign in one hand that read “Arms Embargo Now” and in the other hand a stuffed teddy bear wrapped in a baby blanket covered in red paint to represent the blood of thousands of Palestinian children.
“You have to look at the history between Israel and Palestine. You have to educate yourself,” she said. “Israeli drones target civilians and, after bombs are dropped, they go and pick them off one by one—that’s not right.
“And the U.S. is really complicit in all of this, sending arms. It’s just not right. There needs to be an arms embargo. Everything that’s happening in Gaza right now is not right.
“Fifty percent of the population in Gaza are children—and that’s who they are fighting, that’s who they are targeting.”
One of the signs at the demonstration read “Block Weapons, Save Lives.”
The students want to hold their country and government accountable. Amid the passionate chanting, “Free, free Palestine—Free, free Gaza,” the sound of hope could be heard.
“For students and people observing,” said Grajeda, “do not be afraid to join demonstrations like this. The more solidarity we show for each other, the more we stand together, the more able we are to make change—and free Palestine!”
