There were 13 balloons floating around the Plaza of the Americas Tuesday, but nobody was celebrating.
Each black balloon represented 100 deaths that resulted from last winter’s Gaza conflict.
The fatalities included about 1,386 Palestinian civilians, seven Israeli soldiers and three Israeli civilians.
“The conflict obviously involved crimes against humanity, and we wanted to commemorate those that died in the tragedy,” said Husam Wahdan, president of Students for Justice in Palestine.
“(The club) really strives to increase awareness of political and social justice awareness on campus since there is no other student group that does that,” according to the senior political science major.
The student organization, which started this semester, aims to promote social justice and awareness of the Israeli-Palestine conflict, as well as human rights.
The event included speakers, symbolic balloons, fliers and brownies.
Addison Vawters, 21, said he stopped by Tuesday’s event because it relates to his major in Middle Eastern language and culture.
He said he’s studied Middle Eastern culture and Arabic for three years and has even gotten to know people close to the conflict.
“I think most people in the United States don’t see the conflict because it’s between two countries that we don’t depend on economically,” he said.
Vawters also pointed out that acknowledging the Israeli-Palestine conflict is very important because it affects countries that we have a vested interest in.
“I like that (the organization) is making people aware,” he said. “It is one of the most complicated and controversial issues today.”
On Tuesday, the Student Senate heard a revised resolution about the Gaza conflict and advocating for a two-state solution.
