Commemorating the anniversary of the Hamas attack, both factions are engaging in protests and rallies.

Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations are taking place across the country to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Hamas assault that initiated the current conflict in Gaza.

One year after the violent assault orchestrated by Hamas militants in Israel, activists gathered on college campuses and city streets nationwide to commemorate the anniversary. Some initiated pro-Palestinian "week of rage" demonstrations, while others held memorials for Israelis who lost their lives or were taken hostage. For numerous Jewish college students, this day served as a moment to honor the victims from a year ago and to advocate for the release of hostages currently held in Gaza by Hamas. Nearly every campus Hillel organized a vigil, and Jewish federations coordinated hundreds of community events. Conversely, for some pro-Palestinian activists, this day presented a renewed chance to protest the Israeli military actions in Gaza that ensued after the October 7 attack. Students for Justice in Palestine organized events at universities across the nation, including those in Maryland, Colorado, California, and more. Protests and rallies erupted in cities nationwide, highlighted by a significant demonstration in New York City, where approximately 1,500 participants marched in support of the Palestinian cause.

The events were charged with emotion, yet largely remained peaceful. In Michigan, however, the homes of the president and the chief investment officer at the University of Michigan faced vandalism, as reported by the Detroit News. President Santa Ono’s residence in suburban Detroit and the sidewalk in front were marked with the terms “intifada” and “coward,” while the investment officer’s property was similarly defaced. Additionally, the News indicated that police are looking into anti-Israeli vandalism at the Jewish Federation of Detroit. Meanwhile, at the City College of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center in Hamilton Heights, vandals broke windows and spray-painted “divest now” at the entrance on Monday morning. The day prior, “Oct. 7 is forever” was spray-painted at Baruch College, another CUNY campus located in Manhattan. The NYPD is currently investigating these incidents, as confirmed by CUNY officials.

The events were charged with emotion, yet largely remained peaceful. In Michigan, however, the homes of the president and the chief investment officer at the University of Michigan faced vandalism, as reported by the Detroit News. President Santa Ono’s residence in suburban Detroit and the sidewalk in front were marked with the terms “intifada” and “coward,” while the investment officer’s property was similarly defaced. Additionally, the News indicated that police are looking into anti-Israeli vandalism at the Jewish Federation of Detroit. Meanwhile, at the City College of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center in Hamilton Heights, vandals broke windows and spray-painted “divest now” at the entrance on Monday morning. The day prior, “Oct. 7 is forever” was spray-painted at Baruch College, another CUNY campus located in Manhattan. The NYPD is currently investigating these incidents, as confirmed by CUNY officials.

Elisha Baker, a junior at Columbia University and one of the organizers of the installation, expressed, “Our aim is to highlight the narratives of these individuals, to remember and honor them, and to keep them in our thoughts.” He noted that the combination of international events and circumstances at his university has led to significant stress over the past year. “It feels like a continuous nightmare, lasting over 365 days.” To maintain a separation, barricades and security personnel were positioned between the Jewish students and their supporters and the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who left their classes in response to a call from Columbia University Apartheid Divest to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 41,000 individuals have lost their lives since the conflict began, without differentiating between civilians and combatants.

By noon, a large number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, many with their faces covered by kaffiyehs, were gathering — leaving their classes, assembling on the steps of Low Memorial Library, and then heading towards downtown Manhattan to participate in a citywide march. The crowd moved dynamically across the campus, playing drums and cymbals while chanting, “Free, free Palestine!”

The pro-Israel supporters, though fewer in number, attempted to counter the pro-Palestinian demonstrators by waving Israeli flags and playing loud music in an effort to overshadow their chants. “Let us mourn in peace!” echoed the voices of the Jewish students. As the pro-Israel contingent gradually dispersed, only a few remained while the pro-Palestinian group moved through the area surrounding the library, shouting, “From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever!” Subsequently, many students made their way to the subway to join additional protesters advocating for the Palestinian cause. At the New York Stock Exchange, Deborah Lee, 60, held a sign depicting a grieving mother, which she mentioned was originally created for protests against the Iraq War. “It’s truly disheartening that I had to bring it out again, as it’s evident that this conflict extends beyond just soldiers,” she remarked. Earlier in March, she faced charges of disorderly conduct for obstructing traffic in front of the Israeli Mission in New York during pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Now, she found herself back on the streets. “I took some time off work because I believe our place is here, advocating for change.”