Groups take to the streets for peace

Two opposing demonstrations gathered at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard… Two opposing demonstrations gathered at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard yesterday evening in reaction to the Israeli ground invasion in Hamas-occupied Palestine. Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine arrived first. Approximately 50 members of the organization, unaffiliated students, staff and community members turned out at the peak of the protest, waving Palestinian flags, chanting and distributing fliers in protest of Israel’s siege upon the Gaza strip. The vigil began at 5 p.m. and ran until just after 7 p.m., with numbers decreasing as temperatures dropped. Pitt staff member Amy Hasan held a sign condemning Israel’s war crimes. Other signs displayed messages such as ‘Peace Through Unity’ and ‘Stop the Injustice.’ When the traffic light facing the cars on Forbes Avenue turned red, demonstrators ran out on the cross walk chanting and holding their signs high. Some of the attendees wove between the cars. Following week-long air strikes, Israel moved ground forces into the Gaza strip Saturday with the intended goal of overturning the Hamas infrastructure and taking control of Hamas rocket launching sites, which were firing explosives into southern Israel. Jonas Moffat, president of Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine, said that the organization is not anti-Israel. ‘We have nothing against Israel as a country, just the Israeli army,’ said Moffat. Protesters said that seeking peace in Gaza does not mean they support Hamas retaliation in Israel. ‘The Israeli occupation since ’47 has been incredibly brutal,’ said Josh Ulrich, a Pitt senior. ‘The fact that Palestine has survived is retaliation enough.’ Across the street at Schenley Plaza, a second, smaller coalition of about 25 students gathered behind an Israeli flag. ‘I wouldn’t call us pro-Israel, but pro-peace,’ said freshman Eric Hoerger. Freshman Becca Tanen agreed. ‘ ‘Through peace, we will improve the quality of life of people in Gaza,’ said Tanen. Hasan said that Israel’s mistreatment of Palestine escalated Hamas’ actions. ‘Israel is an occupying force,’ said Hasan. ‘As an occupying force, it has obligations. What Hamas does is not right, but if you push a starving dog into a corner, abuse it and beat it and torment it, then what do you expect to happen?’ Loretta Riggs, an administrator of the Universal Academy of Pittsburgh, said the least she could do was voice her contempt for the offense. ‘As Muslims, we are obliged to stand up and speak out about what is wrong. It’s just an injustice.’ Lea Blumenfeld, a Pitt alumna who identified herself as an ethnic Jew, condemned Israel’s treatment of its Arab citizens. ‘From a people who have known oppression for centuries, it is simply abominable. What Israel is doing is not keeping with Jewish values or Jewish law,’ said Blumenfeld. ‘I am here for justice,’ she added. Moffat agreed that people are not aligning simply because of their religions. ‘This is not a question of religion,’ said Moffat. ‘It’s about the human race.” ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Moffat said that U.S. influence on the world stage is a significant force in the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine. ‘The United States has continuously turned a blind eye against what’s happening in Palestine,’ said Moffat. ‘There has been a mountain of U.N. resolutions, and it is always the United States who vetoes them.’ ‘As long as we are involved, it is blood on our hands,’ said Moffat. Pitt police were informed ahead of time of the protest, and four to five police officers attended the area to ensure that demonstrators remained peaceful and did not impede traffic. No incidents occurred.