Pro-Palestine protesters march through Providence, one day after Brown encampment ends

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — One day after the encampment at Brown University came down, a pro-Palestinian rally made its way through Providence Wednesday evening, marching right to university president Christina Paxson’s home.

Protesters included residents of Providence, the Graduate Labor Organization at Brown, and students. The protesters said they are picking up where the encampment left off and calling for divestment now, not later.

“The Brown Corporation made an agreement with the students, that agreement needs to be honored and not only that, we the people are uniting to demand that that divestment vote be in favor of divestment, it’s not enough to just vote,” said Maya Lehrer of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

The Brown Corporation will vote on divestment in October following a presentation from students in May.

One Jewish student came to Wednesday’s march to counter-protest.

”I don’t care if its a mob of 500 people, I’m gonna stand here by myself if I need to and I have a right to be here. They have a right to be here, they’re being peaceful, I’m being peaceful, there’s no need to escalate but we all share this land we all share this school, so there’s not reason for me not to be here,” said Mateen Markzar.

Another student tells ABC 6 News that the Jewish community is not surprised by protests continuing, but also said as a Jewish student, she continues to feel unsafe on campus.

“The Jewish community at Brown is strong but we are being discriminated against, and no one in this community should ever feel that they have to hide parts of themselves to participate fully as members of the Brown community. Tonight is just another example of Jewish students and Israeli students being demonized for simply being themselves,” said Avital Strauss of Brown Students for Israel.