Editor’s Note: Attributions of two sources within this story have been updated by request of the individuals involved.
Flowers and candles lined a corner of the Main Mall on Thursday, adorning picture frames that contained images of those killed by the Israeli military in Gaza since October 2023. As attendees of the vigil crouched down to read each victim’s story printed alongside their picture, some shed tears while others shared hugs.
The Palestine Solidarity Committee, in collaboration with the Ahlul-Bayt Student Organization and Iswarah, held a vigil on Thursday to honor the second anniversary of Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacks killed about 1,200 Israelis. Following the attack, the Israeli government began its ongoing invasion of Gaza, which has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to NPR. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect earlier this week.
At the vigil, the roughly 50 attendees explored the stories of the victims before reconvening for speeches, where speakers emphasized the devastation and human toll across Gaza.
“As we stand on our university grounds, we must remember that there are no universities left standing in Gaza,” said psychology junior Yara Hussain, who spoke at the vigil.
After concluding the vigil with poetry, prayers and a moment of silence, attendees wrote messages of solidarity on a canvas that had the outline of a Palestinian flag.
“We ask you all to allow your hearts to travel to Gaza, our compass and the beating heart of justice around the world,” said Sarah, a neuroscience senior who wished to only be identified by her first name and spoke at the vigil.
The Palestine Solidarity Committee was not the only student organization to hold an event in honor of the Palestinians killed. Students for a Democratic Society held a day of action to speak out for Palestine on Tuesday at the Main Mall.
The event featured three student speakers, who demanded the U.S. stop supplying the Israeli military and called for Israel to withdraw from Gaza. The speakers also continued to call for the University to divest its funds from Israeli involved companies, many of the same asks during the pro-Palestininan protests in April 2024.
“I remember how defeated I felt the first Oct. 7 event commemorating one year of the genocide,” biology junior Sophia Blanco said. “I just felt so compelled to speak because there’s just been such a great scale of destruction, of death, and it feels wrong for me to keep that all in and not speak out about it.”
In between speeches, participants held a moment of silence in honor of the Palestinians killed in the war on Gaza. Despite many of the speakers expressing sorrow for what the United Nations designated a genocide last month, they also said students must keep fighting for the pro-Palestininan cause.
“The actions of the Israeli government (are) absolutely abhorrent,” history junior Parker Oehler said. “By having an event like this, learning how to organize and demonstrating the desires and the solidarity the students at UT have with the Palestinian people, I believe that is the best way that I personally can support the plight of the Palestinian people and work to build a better future.”
