One speaker called the war a “scholasticide," citing findings from the United Nations Independent Human Rights Experts, who reported last month that over 80% of schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.
"Since October, Israel has destroyed every university in Gaza and over 378 Gazan schools, public libraries, archives, laboratories, classrooms, and research facilities," said a protestor, addressing the crowd with a megaphone.
The organization UKY Coalition for Palestine joined broad calls for national action with specific requests to the University. Alyssa Rigney addressed the crowd with a list of demands.
"We demand that the University of Kentucky honor its academic oath and take concrete actions to support the rights of Palestinian students and professors," said Rigney.
While the protest was ongoing at UK, the US House passed a measure expanding the definition of antisemitism - largely in response to incidents of hate speech on college campuses nationwide.
Ben Bandy graduated from UK in 2022. He credits his Jewish faith as his motivation to join the UKY Coalition for Palestine. He said he's felt threatened by antisemitism on campus before - but not by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
"I feel more unsafe by the street preachers that the University of Kentucky continues to allow near White Hall and near the Student Center," said Bandy. "I feel more threatened by the people who are telling me that I'm going to Hell for being gay and trans than I do by anybody who is here in support of Palestine."
The Antisemitism Awareness Act requires the Education Department to use the International Holocaust Rememberance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism when enforcing hate-speech laws. The ACLU says the bill conflates anti-zionism with antisemitism, classifying some criticisms of Israeli policy as hate speech.
The UKY Coalition for Palestine demands that UK divest from Israel, cease partnerships with Israeli universities, and remove city and state law enforcement officers from the campus. Though the crowd dispersed by 7 pm, and the semester nears its end, Rigney said the coalition intends to continue to organize through the summer, and is still awaiting a response from President Dr. Eli Capilouto.
"We know that he's put out statements regarding Ukraine and other events that have happened around the world," said Rigney. "It should not be any different for his Palestinian students."