On Nov. 12, a crowd of all ages, religions, and ethnicities turned out at the state Capitol in support of Palestinians, urging for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. aid to Israel. The conflict, which erupted on Oct. 7 with a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties, has seen a death toll in Gaza surpassing 10,000 people. Israel’s subsequent ground invasion of Gaza has sparked outrage from the United Nations and various countries as the death toll, primarily affecting women and children, continues to rise. Gaza residents are also battling shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

“As a Muslim, I have always been very passionate about the Palestinian cause,” junior Aisha Rashid said. “It’s heartbreaking to have to watch my brothers and sisters in Palestine suffer and feel like there’s nothing I can do, but I have now realized that this is far from the case. It was really heartwarming to see the diversity of people who came to support Palestine. All races and all religions showed up at the protest with signs like ‘Jews for Palestine’ and ‘Filipinos for Palestine.’”

Protestors stood outside the Capitol holding signs accusing President Joe Biden’s utilization of tax dollars for a “genocide” and urging him to support a ceasefire. Both the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have affirmed their support for Israel, even as Biden faces growing pressures within his party. Additionally, U.S. Progressive Democratic representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, have voiced their support for a ceasefire and urged Biden to de-escalate the crisis. 

“It’s really frustrating that the taxes we pay are going toward the killing of innocent Palestinian families. It makes you question what type of country we live in,” Rashid said. “But we must use protests and other forms of freedom of speech to show that we will not stand for this.”

The rally was organized by a coalition of pro-Palestine organizations, including the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The crowd stretched across several blocks, overflowing onto sidewalks. Some individuals climbed onto a nearby parking garage and held banners above the roof. Another group carried a white banner listing the names of every individual killed in Gaza since Oct. 7.

“Youth protests tend to attract large numbers due to the excitement of it all, especially now that social media makes events like these far more visible,” AP Government and Economics teacher River Wylie said. “While young people are more likely to attend protests than older people, they are far less likely to vote, especially in [smaller] elections. This results in politicians often ignoring youth, or responding rhetorically without backing up public statements with a voting record.”

Officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety were positioned along the march’s perimeter, making sure everyone stayed safe and that the protest didn’t disrupt the Texas Book Festival, also taking place in downtown Austin.

“The most important thing a citizen can do is use their voice, be it through protest, writing letters, or at the ballot,” Wylie said. “Peaceful protest is generally the most effective way to enact change. The more any group participates in politics, the more politicians listen to that group.”

After Biden’s call for humanitarian pauses to help people in need, Israel told the U.S. they would allow for four-hour daily halts for aid and civilian movement. Yet, Israel declares that if they stop fighting, it may allow hidden militants to regroup and has consistently refused to agree to an armistice.

“If you look at history, protests have been one of the leading peaceful influencers in battling oppression,” Rashid said. “It’s crucial to ensure that people in our community are informed about these current events. We must not lose this momentum and we must continue raising awareness. [It’s] the best shot we have at influencing government policies.”