One hundred black balloons and a banner displaying 6,000 red dots blew in the wind on Turlington Plaza Thursday afternoon as two groups of students representing each side of the Gaza conflict protested separately for four hours.
An archway of balloons, each balloon symbolizing 10 lives lost in Gaza, hung above members of Islam on Campus, the Arabic Cultural Association and College Democrats.
Meanwhile, students from the Jewish Student Union, Hillel Jewish student center and College Republicans held a banner showing the 6,000 rockets that have been reportedly launched into Israel since the cease-fire, according to Sandy Baum, an English senior and student activist.
Although there are not many issues the two sides have been able to agree upon, one point both groups stand behind is that UF students should become more educated about the conflict.
"We're here to raise awareness about what's going on," said Jonathan Bull, vice president of external relations for Islam on Campus.
Jewish Student Union board member Ben Erez agreed that students need to be more informed on the issues surrounding the conflict.
"The only people who are voicing their opinions are those who are pro-Israel or pro-Palestine," Erez said.
The anti-Hamas protesters encouraged students to write their congressmen about the issue, while the pro-Gaza demonstrators presented statistics to educate students.
Overall, the protest was peaceful. However, a short-lived tension rose around 2 p.m. when inflammatory remarks were made, Bull said.
"People are too emotional to have a rational conversation," said Emily Bernstein, a UF senior Jewish studies major. "It's fine if it's a one-on-one basis, but you can't shout."
