Editors note: Some sources have chosen to remain anonymous or identify themselves by first name only out of concern for their safety and security.
For years, students at UC Santa Cruz have organized in solidarity with Palestine on our campus. From informational events and rallies to a month-long encampment that moved throughout the university, students have made this campus a battleground for change.
Now, they’re taking that fight to the city’s streets.
Demonstrators pass the Santa Cruz Town Clock and enter Pacific Avenue.
This shift in focus was physically represented on April 4 when UCSC Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) held the “Arms Embargo Now!” demonstration. This three-part action consisted of a rally at the base of campus, followed by a march to Santa Cruz City Hall, and ended with a bake sale and vigil.
“Strong repression against our student movement has definitely made it a little bit different to organize this year. We’re trying to engage the outer community as well as continuing to engage the student body,” said Savvy, an SJP media liaison. “We’re looking to work with other community organizations and emphasize the interconnectedness of all these struggles and how imperialism abroad is affecting our livelihoods here.”
Demonstrators chant while marching through High Street.
The Trump administration’s recent moves seek to limit pro-Palestine student protests at universities across the country. Since taking office, the Trump administration has, as of writing, revoked at least 400 student visas nationwide, including international students involved in pro-Palestine protests. UC students make up at least 87 of these revocations. The administration is additionally withholding federal grants from select universities, accusing them of allowing anti-semitism on campuses as a result of last year’s encampment protests.
Undeterred by increasing federal crackdowns, a crowd of students and activists slowly grew at the base of campus around noon, where they participated in chants before an anonymous SJP representative moved to the center of the crowd to give a speech.
Attendees at the base of campus display a Palestinian flag to commuters passing by.
“Our movement has left the limelight and we are in the grassroots stage of struggle,” said the anonymous SJP representative. “We must stay steadfast in our work to fight this genocide and the imperial violence by our own government. Whether it be 20 of us or 200, we must continue to organize and deepen our commitment to recover and build strong relationships and unity.”
At its height, over 60 people attended the demonstration. At the rally at the base of campus , call-and-response chants rang out, emphasizing the purpose of the demonstration.
“Not another penny, not another dollar, arms embargo, stop the slaughter!”
SJP is calling for an arms embargo on the export of weapons and military equipment from the United States to Israel. As of March 1, the Trump administration has approved $12 billion in foreign military sales to Israel. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a declaration to expedite over $4 billion in military assistance to Israel, reversing the Biden administration’s partial arms embargo.
An attendee displaying a pamphlet criticizing U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta for his voting record and financial ties to pro-Israel interests.
Jimmy Panetta, the representative for California’s 19th district, which includes Santa Cruz, faced particular scrutiny from the group of demonstrators. Representative Panetta was recently named in a now dismissed class action “Taxpayers Against Genocide” lawsuit, which accuses many Northern California representatives of illegally allocating $26.38 billion in military aid to Israel. This money, the protesters argue, could instead be used to improve the quality of life of constituents in his district.
“We see the effects of militarism, capitalism and imperialism in Santa Cruz, where our officials continuously prioritize profit over people and war over welfare,” said the anonymous SJP representative. “We demand divestment from genocide and ethnic cleansing and for an investment in communities to house and feed people and to provide healthcare and education.”
Following the speech, around 50 demonstrators, followed by a van adorned in pro-Palestine messaging, marched down High Street and shut down the eastbound lane. The group continued onto a crowded Mission Street, where loud chants of “Panetta you don’t speak for us, Santa Cruz has had enough!” could be heard over the sounds of passing cars honking in solidarity. Upon arriving downtown, the group headed down Pacific Avenue before turning onto Church Street and eventually gathering at City Hall.
Demonstrators cross the Mission and Chestnut streets intersection.
The group was greeted at City Hall by around ten student and non-student demonstrators and vendors selling baked goods. In an interview with City on a Hill Press, local activist Laura expressed the importance of the community showing up for students.
“You can make the students political prisoners but we’re going to support the students having their rights to free speech,” Laura said. “I think it’s pretty clear, we are trying to say ‘the community supports the students.’”
The vigil constructed by demonstrators at City Hall. The posters, held down by flowers, contain pictures and short biographies of people killed in Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
At City Hall, protesters participated in more chants before holding a vigil for those in Palestine who have lost their lives. Following the vigil, two speeches were given by representatives from Sandata, Revolutionary Student Organization and the Worker Student Solidarity Coalition.
“The more people we get out here, the more community members and the more outside organizations that engage with us, the safer we’ll be,” Savvy said. “We’re trying to expand the coalition and build a grassroots movement that, no matter what, they can’t destroy.”