Today marks the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and one year of the Israel-Hamas war. USC and members of the Los Angeles community are hosting events to honor and remember those affected with walk outs and speeches.
A consortium of five pro-Palestinian student-led organizations at USC, including Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), USC Graduate Students for Palestine, USC Divest from Death, USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation (S.C.A.L.E.) and Jewish Voice for Peace USC, are hosting a “Week of Rage” over the course of three days this week to protest the ongoing war.
On October 7, Hamas, a militant group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S., launched an assault on Israel, killing around 1,200 individuals and abducting 250 hostages, as reported by the Associated Press. Since that date, Israeli military responses have killed 41,000 Palestinians, according to the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.
On Monday, a walk out for “one year of genocide, one year of resistance,” according to the USC SJP Instagram page, took place at 11:30 a.m. Participants walked with signs for roughly two and a half hours on the streets surrounding USC, briefly blocking traffic and campus entry.
On Tuesday, October 8, the same coalition of organizations will hold an “art workshop, political education, and art auction” from 6 to 9 p.m. at the University Religious Center courtyard. The events will conclude on Wednesday, October 9, with a study-in for Palestine where students are encouraged to do their homework together.
Some students feel that these events are not enough to bring awareness.
“To be honest, it’s a year late for those conversations. It’s a year late for those things to be corrected,” said a senior studying business administration who requested anonymity due to fear for their personal safety. “I, in this past year, have just been focused on doing any type of action that I can to bring other people into awareness, and I feel an immense amount of shame and guilt being a part of this institution…”
USC’s Hillel, a center and organization for Jewish students, also hosted a vigil on October 7 at Hahn Plaza near Tommy Trojan. Beginning at 5:15 p.m., the event aimed to allow attendees a place to grieve and share stories. The event is hosted in partnership with Trojans for Israel, USC Chabad, USC Tikvah, USC Dornsife, USC Shoah Foundation and the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.
“I think the events like the vigil are really important because I think it’s the time for us to all come together, be able to mourn together,” said Naya Pollack, a junior majoring in economics and finance who is planning on attending the event. Pollack said her family friend was wounded at the Nova Festival.
“I think today is still a really hard day, because it just feels like we’re stuck on October 7, 2023, and I think everyone today is still grieving from [the hostages],” she said. “But I also think that today and the vigil, I think it’s going to show everyone and remind how strong and resilient our community is.”
In the greater Los Angeles area various events will take place to honor the anniversary.
The Jewish Federation Los Angeles will be hosting L.A. Remembers at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the event will officially begin at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature speeches from family members of the hostages and a candle-lighting ceremony.
Expected attendees include actress Mayim Bialik, Israeli performer Raviv Kaner, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Congressman Brad Sherman of California’s 32nd District. The event will conclude at 9 p.m.
IfNotNow will also be hosting “Every Life a Universe” at Gloria Molina Grand Park from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will honor both Israeli and Palestinian life, according to the website, as organizers “call for an end to the Israeli government’s genocidal assault on Gaza, and to our own government’s enabling of it.” Organizers encourage attendees to wear white.
“I think stuff like the vigil and other stuff that was happening are really important and a good safe space for everyone to grief and be reminded of those who passed and who aren’t here anymore,” Pollack said.