FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Students from Fayetteville High School left their campus during the pledge of allegiance and walked to the Walton Arts Center to participate in a protest in support of a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Israel-Hamas war has raged on since October of 2023 after an attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas. Following the Oct. 7 attack, Israel launched many controversial strikes resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, mostly civilians, and driven millions from their homes.
Since then, many groups supporting both sides of the conflict have spoken out. Students on college campuses across the country have openly protested for a ceasefire overseas.
On Friday, students at Fayetteville High School joined that cause.
"I think it's our responsibility to do what we can, as people who are privileged to not be stuck in a situation like that," said 14-year-old freshman and event organizer Ambrose Henriksen.
Jude Brown, another freshman, said "The living conditions of the people in Gaza are awful. They're getting bombed almost daily by Israel. The best way to raise awareness is to shout about it. Actions speak louder than words, but actions and words together speak loudest."
In response to the protest, organized by the students and NWA for Palestine, the Jewish Federation of Arkansas said in part, "We are heartened by young people wanting to use their voices to speak out about issues they care about. This is what democracy and free speech is about."
Teens from Fayetteville High School aren't the only ones using their voices. Just last week, Fayetteville residents and city council members debated for hours on the decision to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Friends of Palestine NWA drafted a resolution presented at the meeting that night, calling for the city to support an immediate ceasefire and condemn all hateful speech directed at any person or group
"This resolution is not just for the Palestinian people, this is for the Jewish community as well," said one member of the group, Charitha Katupitiya. "There's verbiage in the city resolution, speaking about the justice that is required for not just the Palestinian people, but the Israeli people and the Jewish people. The antisemitism that's on the rise needs to be stopped as well."
Community members also came out to support the demonstrators, young and old.
"I'm extremely proud of these students. It's an effort. And it takes some courage to leave the high school to do it," said 76-year-old Shelley Buonaiuto.
92-year-old University of Arkansas professor Dick Bennett said "I have always been in support of the foundation and protection of Israel, but right now, Israeli leaders have gone too far."
After about an hour of nonviolently chanting and demonstrating, the students made their way back to campus to continue with the rest of their day at school.
The students said it was time well spent.
Organizers said this won't be the last protest. The students tell 5NEWS they're going to take the summertime to continue planning more rallies in support of their cause.
Fayetteville Public Schools said any students who left class without permission would receive an unexcused absence.
5NEWS reached out to the Jewish Federation of Arkansas for a statement in response to the protest.
Full statement:
On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Arkansas, we are both saddened and distraught at the brutal murders, rape, mutilation, and hostage taking that occurred by Hamas in Israel on October 7th. We are also saddened and distraught over the loss of life to the Palestinian people that occurred since Hamas entered Israel on October 7th. Demonizing an entire people does not address who has power and authority to first act, and then respond, not the people who have no power.
We are heartened by young people wanting to use their voices to speak out about issues that they care about. This is what democracy and free speech is about. How we go about becoming informed on issues is what matters most. We must recognize this and think about where we get our information and specific words used to form perspective.
Each one of us needs to ask ourselves, “who is the agent of this information that I am receiving?”, and “what information am I NOT receiving?” Turn on or read a different perspective to see another viewpoint. Knowledge is power.
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