Student for Justice in Palestine at William Paterson University held their third Vigil for Martyrs on Tuesday night, marking two years since the start of the Gaza genocide on October 7.
The event, held in Zanfino Plaza, honored the lives lost and called for continued awareness of the occupation.
SJP President expressed the importance of student advocacy and maintaining a voice on campus regarding the genocide. “I feel like last year, we were mourning, but now it’s more frustrating as well as mourning,” the president said.
She noted that the genocide didn’t start on October 7, 2023, but before has roots in more than 75 years of occupation.
“We ask that people bring awareness to this and they realize the fact that this is more than just a war between two different groups and two different ethnicities, but it’s the fact of an oppressor and the oppressed,” said Ameer Rabboh, a student advocate and SJP member.
SJP organizers said they spoke to the university president and student development about the integrity of this vigil as well as added security measures which weren’t previously present.
The two hour event began with a personal speech from the president of the organization. She spoke about her visit to Palestine during the summer and the difficulties her family faced while trying to bring a family member back to the United States.
The vigil featured Zellie Imani,a Paterson-based Black Lives Matter organizer, who urged students to use their platforms to raise awareness.
“We’re all human beings and as a human being, we recognize that everyone deserves justice, everyone deserves dignity, and everyone deserves freedom,” said Imani.
A 20-minute break in the event included Maghrib prayer lead by Ameer Rabboh.
Rutgers University student, who will stay anonymous due to safety reasons, recited a speech in Arabic, explaining that translating it would diminish its meaning.
Another speaker, Mohammed Arham, recited verses from the Quran and quotes from Islamic Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“Islam is like a body, when one part hurts, the rest of the body will feel that hurt,” said Arham.
SJP’s Treasurer spoke about the emotional toll of constantly filtering her words when discussing Palestine for the comfort of others. She expressed how the vigil provided a safe space to speak freely.
Rabboh later urged attendees “to continue to stand on the right side of history no matter the difference in religions and ethnicities.”
Sophomore Osama Othman, delivered a speech highlighting the power of students’ voices and freedom of speech and continued advocacy.
The vigil ended with a collective dua (prayer) led by Rabboh, and a moment in silence led by the SJP president.
