The AK Party Youth Branch ÜniAK organization and Turkish university students have joined a global wave of protest, rallying against what they describe as Israel's genocidal war in Gaza. This movement stands in solidarity with parallel demonstrations on numerous U.S. campuses, where students face potential arrest and expulsion for their activism.
The demonstrations have spanned multiple universities across Türkiye, including Trabzon Karadeniz Technical University, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, and Düzce University. These rallies are part of a coordinated effort to draw international attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to criticize the substantial military support Israel receives from the United States.
ÜniAK and associated university students have voiced their support for their American counterparts, who have established rapidly spreading pro-Palestine encampments on college campuses. These U.S. protests have become focal points for broader discussions on academic freedom and the political responsibilities of educational institutions in addressing global human rights issues.
Protesters sharply criticize what they refer to as "Israeli barbarity," which has led to the displacement and deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, since 1948. This Israeli barbarity has turned into a genocide that will be considered a stain on humanity's history as of October 7, 2023.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is leading the charge on international platforms to bring global attention to the plight of the Palestinians. The movement is gaining traction among university students in several key U.S. states, including Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Texas, and California. These students are reportedly turning university campuses, traditionally places of safety, into hubs of protest and activism against Israeli policies.
The AK Party Youth and university students have been raising the voice of Palestine from their campuses to the world for the past two days, declaring #CampusesSayStop. They aim to continue these actions unabated and are calling upon students and academics in all 81 Turkish provinces to join their cause. This appeal underscores a growing movement among the youth and academic sectors to not only voice their dissent but to actively participate in global advocacy against what they deem as injustices committed by Israel.
