On September 26, 100 students gathered at UMass Amherst for a vigil in solidarity with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine, reflecting on ongoing humanitarian crises. Students shared personal reflections, emphasizing the importance of collective advocacy and unity in the face of suffering. Key figures highlighted the symbolic nature of the vigil’s location, reinforcing a shared commitment to humanitarian concerns.
On Thursday evening, September 26, approximately 100 students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst convened on the sidewalk between the Student Union and the Campus Pond to hold a vigil in solidarity with individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine. This event was organized through a collaborative announcement by several student organizations, including the UMass Amherst Students for Justice in Palestine, the Arab Cultural Association, and The African Students Association. The vigil served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crises affecting these regions. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a severe humanitarian emergency prevails, while in Lebanon, the situation has escalated with major bombardments, exacerbated by Israeli airstrikes. Sudan grapples with critical shortages of essential resources, including food, water, medicine, and fuel, along with widespread famine and the displacement of millions. Furthermore, civilians in Gaza continue to experience violence as the Israeli government maintains its military operations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting a commitment to achieve “total victory” in the conflict. In light of the inclement weather, participants shared umbrellas and took shelter beneath nearby trees as they commemorated those affected by these crises. Students were invited to express their thoughts and feelings about the significance of the vigil, providing an opportunity for community engagement. Ridha Alam, a senior majoring in biology and President of the South Asian Student Association, emphasized the importance of advocacy, stating, “It is really important for people to go up there and use your voice for the voiceless and really open your hearts. It is really easy to focus on what makes us so different, but if you think about it, we are all fundamentally the same.” Following several personal reflections, the floor was opened for students to engage in discussions with one another. Senior Maya Glenn, recalling her experience from the previous year’s vigil, expressed her desire to return, highlighting the collective spirit of the gathering. She stated, “I feel like if we can come out and at least acknowledge what is happening on campus altogether, maybe it can give us the push to speak out more, to know that we are a collective.” Glenn also noted the symbolic significance of the vigil’s location, as it stood in parallel to the site of an encampment held during the prior semester. She remarked, “This is where the encampment was held, this is where so many students were arrested and brutalized, and then we come here to speak up and share and embrace each other. There is something pretty symbolic and powerful about it.” A Lebanese student contributed to the dialogue by articulating the importance of such gatherings in offering communal support. She highlighted the interconnectedness of the struggles being faced, asserting, “No matter what, everyone, in some way, is affected by these events. Whether you are ethnically related to these issues… or if you are just empathetic to the cause. Even if we are Palestinian or Lebanese, wherever we are from, we are the same in that we are one humanity and one people at the end of the day.”
The vigil held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst emerged as a manifestation of solidarity among students amid various humanitarian crises impacting regions such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Each area is currently facing significant challenges, including conflict-induced violence, resource shortages, and widespread suffering, which necessitated a collective response from the university community. The collaboration of student organizations further illustrates the interconnectedness of these global issues and the importance of empathy and advocacy among a diverse student body.
The vigil organized by UMass students underscored the power of collective action and solidarity in response to profound humanitarian crises affecting various regions around the world. Through personal reflections and shared experiences, attendees highlighted the significance of their unity and the necessity of raising awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine. The event served not only as a moment of remembrance for lives tragically affected but also as a call to action for empathy and advocacy within the UMass community.
Original Source: dailycollegian.com
