Message of Support for Palestine Delivered During Walk

Uşak University, which has always supported the Palestinian cause and strives to make the voice of the Palestinian people heard through various activities, held a “March for Hope for Gaza, Brotherhood for Humanity” with the participation of academic and administrative staff and students to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza.

The march, organized under the leadership of the communities within the Uşak University Health, Culture, and Sports Directorate, was attended by Uşak University Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş, along with the university's senior management, leaders of civil society organizations in the city, academic and administrative staff, and students. With this action, Uşak University once again demonstrated its determination to stand with the Palestinian people and contribute to keeping this humanitarian tragedy on the world's agenda.

The march began in front of the Uşak University Rectorate building, with participants waving Turkish and Palestinian flags to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza. Participants in the march expressed their reactions with banners reading “Free Palestine from the River to the Sea,” “A Thousand Greetings from Uşak to Gaza,” “Stop the Oppression in Gaza,” “Stop the Crimes Against Humanity in Palestine,” “Al-Aqsa Mosque is Our Honor,” “None of Us Are Free Until Palestine Is Free,” and “No to Genocide.”

At the end of the march, a statement was made on behalf of the student groups. The statement said, "We did not gather here today just for a march. Today, we started a movement of conscience. Today, we are here to say ‘Free Palestine from the River to the Sea’ and to not remain silent in the face of oppression. This march is not just for Palestine. This march is for humanity. This march is for justice. This march is a call to the whole world. Greetings to those who stand up for freedom, greetings to the youth of Uşak University who listen to the voice of Gaza."

The statement continued as follows:

"The streets of Gaza are destroyed, but there is resistance in Gaza, there is hope. As the youth of Uşak University, we say that we will not remain silent in the face of this oppression. We will not just shed tears. We will unite, we will combine our conscience, our pens, and our voices for this cause. Pain is universal. Oppression is universal. The voice of the oppressed is always a call to humanity. What is happening in the Gaza Strip of Palestine is not just a geographical conflict, but a tragedy that tests human values. The blockade, destruction, bombardment, and fear growing in the eyes of children that have been going on for years show a great humanitarian disaster. The Palestinians' most basic right, the right to live with dignity, is violated every day. International organizations are blind enough not to see the oppression in Gaza, deaf enough not to hear it, and too short-sighted to speak out about it, but we, the members of Uşak University, will not remain silent in the face of this oppression.

Uşak University Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş emphasized that thousands of people, mostly children, women, and the elderly, have lost their lives in Israel's attacks on Gaza. Underlining that what is happening in Palestine is a human tragedy, Rector Savaş said, "Remaining silent in the face of the oppression that has been going on for a long time in Palestinian lands is turning our backs on human values. As Uşak University, we are not and will not remain indifferent to this suffering. We stand with the Palestinian people and will continue to be their voice until this injustice ends."

The march concluded with a prayer for the Palestinian people.