About 70 people gathered near the Arch on Monday protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and local police’s questioning of at least three Arabs.
Protesters chanted slogans condemning the Israeli government and demanded that Northwestern guard information about its Arab community.
“Northwestern shouldn’t give information to the government with no evidence,” said Bridget Broderick, a Chicago resident and member of the International Socialist Organization. “This policy is like racial profiling and other universities haven’t done it.”
The protest was originally planned to criticize a scheduled appearance by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who canceled on Saturday because of security concerns.
“We are part of the victory in stopping Netanyahu from speaking tonight,” Lars Johnson, a Weinberg freshman said through a megaphone. “This demonstrates the power of organized protest.”
Chanting “Hey! Hey! Ho, ho, Netahyahu’s got to go!,” the protesters, made up of various anti-war, socialist and communist groups, condemned the decision to bring Netanyahu to campus and the Israeli government’s actions in general.
Phil Kaplan, a Weinberg senior and member of NU’s Socialist Organization, helped plan the protest by e-mailing and calling members of other activist groups whom he met at anti-war events in Chicago.
He said he thinks security concerns were not the true reason behind Netanyahu’s canceled appearance.
“I think it was canceled because he’s afraid of dissent. We scared him off,” Kaplan said. “The U.S. is the only government on earth that supports Israel’s policies and once there is public outrage against his human rights violations, then he runs away with his tail between his legs.”
Johnson, a member of Northwestern Opposes War and Racism, led the event by rallying participants in various chants and eventually leading them in a circular march.
NU students were joined in the protest by members of eight activist organizations from Evanston and Chicago. Many protesters said they came to demonstrate their opposition to the United States’ support of Israel.
“Citizens need to be aware of what’s going on and we are here to let it be known that we don’t support the policies of Netanyahu and his government because they aren’t good for the Palestinian people or anyone,” said 24-year-old Eddie Casarez, a member of the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, a group formed after the events of Sept. 11.
“All (the U.S. government does) is support corporations and their plundering,” he added.
Protester Tony Goodes spent part of the protest passing out copies of the Proletarian Revolution, a newsletter for the League for the Revolutionary Party. The party is itself a subgroup of the larger International Communist organization.
“Each group has their different reasons, but we are all here because we (identify) with the plight of the Palestinian masses,” Goodes, 32, said.
But Weinberg junior Yelena Shapiro said she wished there were more people at the protest who and could articulate Israel’s side of the story.
“Palestinians have proven they are the terrorists,” Shapiro said. A recent arms shipment reportedly from Iran to the Palestinian government and suicide bombings by terrorists led her to that conclusion, she said.
Weinberg junior Tehseen Ahmed, who is Muslim, said she came to join in on the protest because she disagrees with Netanyahu and his policies.
“I feel he comes to propel hate and not peace,” Ahmed said. “The bloodbath ensuing over there is because of policies created by him.”
