Page 25 - Demo

August 2024 |Mahjubah Magazine25completely disrupted life in Gaza, decimating the infrastructure and making most of Gaza uninhabitable. Many people from around the world have witnessed the carnage in disbelief, feeling helpless and confused, and profoundly troubled by the reports. This has particularly affected students, many from premier universities, who have taken a personal interest in these events, and have insisted that their voices be heard.Research shows that there has been continuous pro-Palestinian protest activity at over 500 campuses, including encampments at more than 130 of these. The arrest of more than 100 students at Columbia University in New York City in April 2024 amplified the protests and caused many to join the demonstrations and to demand the right to free speech. This disrupted classes and graduation ceremonies and helped to make the Palestinian cause a factor in the upcoming presidential elections. This degree of concern and public debate is completely unprecedented in American history.In assessing the student demonstrations, it is important to recall some of the characteristics associated with this generation, known as Gen Z. They are digital natives, who have practically no memory of the world before smartphones and immediate access to technology and social media. Gen Z is also famously tribal, meaning elicit guidance from their group of friends, whether in person or online, more than from any other source. Values and ethical positions tend to be discussed and settled in this way. In other words, interconnectivity is at all-time high.Gen Z is more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous one yet. They grew up with television and educational programing that emphasized the social inclusiveness of all, regardless of race, religion, gender, and sexuality. Though these have not been fully actuated, there is an expectation to social and religious pluralism as a moral good, that is regarded as normative. This coincided, however, with an increase in Muslin population in the United States and the legacy of the War on Terror. There were more Muslims in the community, but the media consistently portrayed Muslim societies as violent, dangerous, and in opposition to human rights and American values. In America, and in some European countries, there has been an increase in social and political polarization, but it is yet to be seen whether this will be the case among Gen Z in general, and among university students in particular. Will this generation champion the equal rights for all and a positive peace that takes the needs of into consideration? This is