Growing up in a South Asian household meant having a constant supply of delicious food: rotis, parathas, mithais (sweets), mouth-watering curries, and deep-fried goodness during Ramadan, the month of fasting and reflection. But it also meant hearing older relatives talk about their diabetes and blood pressure and discussing the mountain of medications they had to…
Since October 2023, students across the nation have spoken out in protest of the U.S. government’s funding and equipping of Israel to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, this past spring saw a rise in the establishment of encampments to demand that their universities divest funds from pro-Israel groups. However, U.S. university administrations…
sThe morning of January 7th at UCLA began with a notable shift in the weather. From days of warmth and dryness emerged gusts of wind that may at first have seemed pleasant, until the first sights of smoke appeared. What would become known as the Palisades Fire was first reported around 10 AM near the…
As we fight for the rights of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we must not forget about our fellow Muslims across the world who have also gone through years of oppression. Such is the story of the Rohingya. There are about 3.5 million Rohingya worldwide, and before August 2017, many of the one million Rohingya…
الحمد لله Alhamdullilah: I heard it as they gazed upon the sea of martyrs draped in white shrouds around them. Alhmadullilah: I heard it through tears amidst never-ending rubble and cries. Alhamdullilah: I heard it as they gathered scraps of food from the near-empty markets, or managed to fill their jugs with water. Alhamdulillah, “Praise…
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…