As the calamitous storm passes and the tyrannical thunder recedes, – As the merciful rain dispels the wildfire and a gentle breeze clears the ashes of destruction, – As the benevolent sun’s rays shine strong and the morning birds chirp once more, – Among the green blades of grass, embedded in the rich black soil,…
October 5th It started two days before October 7th, to be completely honest. I’d like to say I was completely attuned to the passing of time, that I had been anticipating the day for weeks before it came. But in truth, the weight of the upcoming day only hit me at— of all things— an…
On Monday, October 21st, at 8:22 PM, UCLA Police Department arrived at Dickenson Court in order to tear down a sukkah, which is a tent hosted to celebrate the weeklong Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. UCLA Jewish Voice for Peace and the Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine erected this tent to peacefully protest for…
On Oct. 16, 2024, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, 61, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in the city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza. The State of Israel previously designated Sinwar as the “mastermind” behind the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, making him a high-priority military target. Footage released by the Israel Defense Forces…
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…