“Stop financing genocide”: Boise protesters call for ceasefire in Gaza, set up encampment

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) – Dozens of people came out to protest in Boise Friday night and Saturday, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The demonstrations come amid growing anti-war protests and as students across the country form encampments on college campuses to call on their universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

The protest in Boise began Friday evening at the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, where demonstrators laid flowers to “honor genocide victims everywhere,” wrote Boise to Palestine, a group that says it seeks the release of Palestine, on his Instagram. Protesters then marched through downtown and set up an encampment near the Capitol. Many remained at the site overnight, although protesters said police removed the tents early Saturday. Idaho State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

At the protest site Saturday morning, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and carried signs reading “Free Palestine,” “Stop Funding Genocide” and “End US Complicity in Genocide.” A long piece of fabric bore the written names of tens of thousands of people who died in Gaza.

Protesters said the tents were meant to be symbolic for families in Gaza whose homes were destroyed and are living in tents. The Associated Press reported that more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities. Several protesters said they came to stand in solidarity with Palestine, to raise awareness of what is happening in the region and to oppose U.S. financial support for Israel. Many said they were not comfortable sharing their names out of fear for their safety.

Boise State Students for Palestine also had a list of demands for the university, including stopping “current and future endowment investments in companies affiliated with Israel and any other perpetrators of the genocide in Gaza.” , pledging to be transparent about finances and securing amnesty for these people. who talk about Palestine.

Boise State sent a message Friday warning against any disruption to the opening ceremonies, which were taking place Saturday. The university said it would make safety a top priority and would not tolerate actions that “disrupt university operations and events, shouting from speakers, or violations of the law or university policy.

“Over the past week, unrest has occurred on college campuses across the country due to conflict in the Middle East,” the email, signed by Boise State President Marlene Tromp, said. and the university leadership team. “We are concerned and troubled by the distressing media coverage on campuses, which shows an escalation of violent clashes, destruction of property, and much more. »

Protesters at the protest site Saturday morning remained peaceful as several passing cars honked their horns to show their support. Supporters dropped off food, water and other supplies throughout the morning.

The Idaho chapter of IfNotNow, a national organization that describes itself as a movement of American Jews campaigning to “end American support for the Israeli apartheid system,” called in an Instagram post for an end to the “mass massacre of Palestinians” and pushed back against claims that equated anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

“As Idaho Jews, we know what anti-Semitism is, and calling for an end to genocide, calling for an end to Israeli occupation, calling for freedom in Gaza has never been and will never be anti-Semitic,” the message states.

Over the past few months, protests have taken place in Boise in support of Palestine and Israel. In November, more than 1,000 people attended an event organized by the Idaho Stands with Israel coalition following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.