On November 26, three young Palestinian men were shot in Burlington, Vermont. Hisham Awartani, a junior at Brown University, released a statement that was read at a campus vigil saying, “This hideous crime did not happen in a vacuum. As much as I appreciate the love of every single one of you here today, I am but one casualty in a much wider conflict.”

Awartani’s friends Kinnan Abdalhamaid, a student at Haverford College and Tahseen Ahmad , a student at Trinity College, also remain in the hospital as of this recording and a suspect has been arrested and charged. Awartani went on to write,

“Had I been shot in the West Bank, where I grew up, the medical services which saved my life here would have likely been withheld by the Israeli army. The soldier who would have shot me would go home and never be convicted. I understand that the pain is so much more real and immediate because many of you know me, but any attack like this is horrific, be it here or in Palestine. This is why when you say your wishes and light your candles today, your mind should not just be focused on me as an individual, but as a proud member of a people being oppressed.”

On this episode, we’re focusing on students - the attacks on the young Palestinians in Burlington, threats and harassment campaigns against college organizers, and the role that students have played in ending apartheid and war historically and today.

Joining us is Roua Daas of Palestinian Youth Movement.

Learn more about the Shut It Down for Palestine movement at ShutItDown4Palestine.org 

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