Building power through student chapters
Standing Together reports on its work to build groups on university campuses.
Our student chapters are a true example of what it means to build political power on campuses, and here’s how they’re leading the way:
Last week, over 30 Jewish and Palestinian Standing Together student chapter leaders from universities and colleges across the country spent two days at Givat Haviva to discuss leadership, organizing and student activism. They focused on ways to prevent the National Student Union from political persecution of students speaking out against the war, reducing the presence of weapons on campus, increasing solidarity between Jewish and Palestinian students in the upcoming year, and building more campaigns to end the war and bring back the hostages.
Last week we also held an incredible seminar specifically for Palestinian student leaders. Palestinian students came together from across the country to learn about organizing and leadership. The seminar aimed to give Palestinian students the tools to become leaders on campus, create a safe space for strengthening Palestinian identity alongside Jewish partners, and introduce students to important activists in the field. This seminar gave everyone involved a glimpse of hope and encouragement for the upcoming year in a very tense time.
Standing Together’s student chapters have become a powerful force for political change, organizing students around the country and achieving significant representation in student unions, exemplifying the strength of collective action in shaping the future.
For the past couple of days, we have been anxiously watching as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah spiral out of control. In just a matter of days, rocket fire has intensified, with relentless attacks on northern Israel and South Lebanon. Rockets are raining down on residential areas, tearing apart homes and leaving over 1000 people wounded and over 500 killed in South Lebanon. All the while, residents of northern Israel are spending nights hiding in fear in bomb shelters and fleeing their homes. Our government continues to choose escalation over de-escalation pushing us closer to a devastating regional war. Meanwhile, the people are being ignored as we desperately demand an end to the violence and the safe return of the hostages.
We know the only way to end this chaos is through a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, which will open the possibility for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. There is no security that can be achieved for anyone in this land with continued escalation, all that it will bring is more suffering, despair and destruction. We are continuing to go out to the streets to demand what’s best for all of us: a ceasefire, hostage deal, end to the war, end to the occupation, and Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Every day is a constant nightmare, but we will not give up in our fight for peace, justice and equality for all. Sign up now to join our global community of monthly supporters, Friends of Standing Together, to support us in our struggle for a real future for all of us.