On May 1st, 2024, the UCLA Palestine Solidarity Encampment–consisting of nonviolent protests with participants from across numerous racial and religious backgrounds–was attacked. Masked outsiders set off fireworks, toxic sprays, and attacked students with weapons. Less than 48 hours later, UCLA leadership dismantled the encampment and over 200 students and staff members were arrested. In response…
When I interviewed Paul Wolff, a Holocaust survivor who has dedicated his life to spreading a message of peace and empathy, I felt the profound weight of the history he carries and the lessons he has to offer. Born in 1929 in Hamburg, Germany, Paul grew up in a world that quickly spiraled into darkness…
“It’s difficult to feel represented when the choices seem to overlook our communities, but our voices still need to be heard.” With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, many Muslim students find themselves grappling with complex emotions and difficult choices. For some, the election presents a moral dilemma, while for others, it’s a…
For nine months, I had the invaluable opportunity to investigate the Yemeni civil conflict and humanitarian crisis in greater detail with the U.S. Agency for International Development — particularly within the lens of foreign diplomatic involvement on part of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Below is a summarized excerpt of those findings that I wished to…
Trigger Warning: Mentions of violence on the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at UCLA. I attended the Palestine Solidarity Encampment with the idea that this is the best I could do for the people of Palestine. To physically show up would be my best shot at being an ally and an activist for the Palestinian struggle. And…
Editor’s Note: the author of this work has requested that their identity be concealed for the purpose of openly sharing their first-hand accounts of the police’s brutalization of pro-Palestinian protesters. The author does not wish for their accounts to be retroactively traced back to their identity and misconstrued with other activities that did not involve…
An ode to those who stayed. An ode to those who suffered. An ode to those who slept. An ode to those who prayed. An ode to those who stood. To the youth, the students, the alumni, the faculty. To the refugees, the immigrants, the eyewitnesses, and the delegators. To those who resided in peace…
What happened last night was nothing short of a travesty. Last night, a group of pro-Israeli agitators arrived on UCLA campus and violently attacked student protestors demonstrating at the Dickson Court Solidarity Encampment spearheaded by Students for Justice in Palestine. The assailants were seen covering their faces with white masks to conceal their identities as…
College students across the United States have taken a stand against the Palestinian genocide, including here at UCLA. Over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed with over two-thirds being women and children. Pro-Palestenian encampments have provided a visible platform and community for dialogue and advocacy to push for conversation and movement towards social justice with the…
Several months ago, the Al-Talib Editorial Board condemned a statement released by the office of Chancellor Gene Block that took a biased stance against bigotry on UCLA’s campus in light of Israel’s violations of international law. The statement was nothing short of tone-deaf, hypocritical, and lacking critical nuance regarding the rise of anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and…