UW-Milwaukee war in Gaza protests continue, synagogue responds
MILWAUKEE - Protests over the war in Gaza are continuing on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus.
The protesters' takeover of Mitchell Hall's south lawn remained in place on a third day of protesting on Wednesday, May 1.
UWM said it's talking with students and working on peaceful resolutions.
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As a nearby synagogue is concerned about the safety of its families, the small encampment continued for another day.
Jewish response
A couple blocks away, leaders of the Milwaukee Synagogue for Russian Jews said Wednesday it's concerned for the safety of its families, and worried that the chants and protest may incite violence and modern-day pogroms.
"We want to live in peace with our neighbors, and we don’t want people telling us to go home," said Ester Riva Milchtein, with the Milwaukee Synagogue for Russian Jews. "There has been a significant increase in concern in the Jewish community with antisemitism."
Ester Riva Milchtein
Milchtein said she feels her friends and family will become targets.
"My own family members and relatives were murdered in the Holocaust," Milchtein said. "It’s not something we didn’t come to America for."
The Milwaukee Synagogue for Russian Jews on the city's east side is just blocks away from UWM’s campus.
"We’ve seen it all over and now it’s here, and it’s very scary because you don’t see a crack down," said Alexa Safer, a Jewish activist.
As students make their voices heard, Milchtein also delivers a message.
"People can have differences of opinions, but inciting violence of any kind should never be accepted anywhere," Milchtein said.
Protests continue
At around noon on Thursday, less than 100 protesters – many being students – gathered at the center of the roughly 30 tents. Ringed by cardboard, plywood and tables, they continued to call on the school administration to cut all ties with Israel.
The Israel-Hamas war is among the deadliest in decades, with more than 34,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The war pushed the vast majority of Gaza's people from their homes. Towns and cities are nearly destroyed and on the brink of famine.
Sign at UW-Milwaukee
"Let this lawn symbolize our unwavering commitment to the people of Palestine," said Anas Sabha, a UWM sophomore.
The most recent war was sparked by militants raiding southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hostages. It’s been called the worst violence against Jews since the Holocaust.
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"If they take down our encampment, hear this UWM: five more will take its place," said Robby Knapp, a member of Students for Democratic Society.
UW-Milwaukee Gaza protests; civil rights attorney weighs in
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students are doubling down on their demands in an ongoing protest of the conflict in Gaza.
The campus protest stands in stark contrast to events unfolding at other universities across the country, as buildings were taken over and encampments cleared – including in Madison.
The administration said police continue to monitor the encampment, prioritizing students, employees and visitors’ safety and well-being, and is working to come to a peaceful resolution.