It’s not hard to find videos, articles or podcasts about protests on college campuses across the country, specifically at UCLA and Columbia University.
Students at these protests are often clashing with peers, administration and police, physically and philosophically.
When a couple of groups staged their own protest Thursday afternoon on the University of Northern Colorado campus outside McKee Hall, the scene looked a lot different. Greeley Students for Palestine and Pets for Peace joined in peaceful solidarity for Palestine as well as peace across the globe.
“We all feel very passionately about people, and we all really want to advocate and care for people,” sophomore Ellie Callahan said as she spoke to a group of more than 20 students.
Callahan, a member of Greeley Students for Palestine, said the group puts peace and anti-violence at its forefront as it calls for an immediate ceasefire and the liberation of the Palestinian people.
Since Israel began waging war on Hamas in response to the militant group’s surprise attack on Oct. 7, pro-Palestinian voices across the globe have expressed growing concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian people. Hamas militants on Oct. 7 broke into southern Israel and killed more than 1,200 people, mostly Israelies, taking about 250 others hostage — some of whom were released during a cease-fire in November.
Since then, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has wreaked vast destruction and brought a humanitarian disaster, with several hundred thousand Palestinians in northern Gaza facing imminent famine, according to the United Nations. More than 80% of the population has been driven from their homes.
Callahan said a group chat was sent around campus recently to call attention to what’s happening in Palestine. About 20 showed up last Sunday at the UNC Student Commons to discuss what they could do, Callahan said.
The latter conversation led to 14 people leading a protest throughout campus Monday morning, the beginning of finals week. Students protested again Wednesday morning. Greeley Students for Palestine’s protest and encampment outside McKee was inspired by what’s happening on other campuses in the country, Callahan said, but no one is sleeping overnight at UNC to avoid breaking any laws.
Callahan said Greeley Students for Palestine members spoke with UNC officials about having the protest, which she said officials approved.
It’s unknown whether the group will host any future protests as the campus clears out for summer vacation. However, Callahan said Greeley Students for Palestine members will be in touch with UNC officials and stay up to date on what’s happening in Palestine. In the meantime, their mission is to help bring awareness to Palestine and its people, Callahan said.
“Palestinian people are people,” Callahan said. “If you see what’s happening to them, I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind those people need help. Those people need advocates. They have been displaced from their homes. They are in pain. They are suffering, and we want that suffering to end. We want them to be people again.”
Junior Landon Ungerman organized Thursday’s Pets for Peace last Saturday after seeing recent events unfold with students at the Auraria campus in Denver. For nearly a week, pro-Palestine students have been protesting on campus. Auraria police arrested 40 students for trespassing on April 26.
Ungerman said Pets for Peace allows attendees to bring their pets to a peaceful protest, but it’s also where people can come together to talk about complex subjects.
“Pets for Peace is advocating that we want peace,” he said. “Every person deserves the right to freedom, safety and the things they need to live. As people and as a world, we need to bring an end to war and conflict.”
He said the Pets for Peace mission doesn’t directly relate to events in Gaza, as they’re more about worldwide peace. He’d like to host another Pets for Peace this summer.
Callahan and Ungerman said their events share the same core value of spreading peace. Both UNC students said it made sense to combine the events because of their mutual core value of peace.
Callahan said the Greeley Students for Palestine’s Instagram page, UNCO_GSP, is the best way to stay updated with the group.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
