On Wednesday, Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Abolitionists Action Central Coast SLO held a May Day Rally in solidarity with Palestine.
Around 50 protestors gathered at O’Neill Green, where the rally took place. They were surrounded by about 20 law enforcement members from the Cal Poly Police, SLO Police department, the local Sheriff’s department, California Men’s Colony and Cuesta College. There were also officers on standby, according to Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier.
Co-chair of the YDSA and graduate student at Cal Poly Connor Winnen said “we want to celebrate unions, celebrate working-class power” as well as “shine some light on the Palestine conflict and show solidarity with other campuses around the country.”
His group is “hoping to do what we can,” he said.
At the rally, multiple members of the various groups spoke about the purpose and importance of the rally. The first two speakers from the YDSA focused on the importance of May Day (also known as International Workers Day). They spoke about the long fight for worker’s rights, and the importance of unions. They also referred to the California Faculty Association (CFA) strike this year and the undergraduate workers who voted to join the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU).
The next two speakers – who did not identify themselves or their affiliated organizations – talked more about the Palestine conflict. They spoke at length about student protests over the years, referencing the protests at Columbia in 1968 over the Vietnam War in which students took over Hamilton Hall, the same Hall they have taken over in recent protests.
The last speaker ended his speech by saying, “we will not stop. There is nothing they can do that will make us stop.”
There was also a small group of students in opposition to the protest, although they did not directly interact with any of the protestors.
This rally follows numerous pro-Palestinian protests at universities around the country, some of the larger ones in California were held at USC, UCLA and Cal Poly Humboldt. It also follows pro-Palestine movements on the Cal Poly SLO campus including the die-in that was held on Dexter Lawn earlier Wednesday morning, and a protest in March that resulted in eight arrests.
One protestor, a Cal Poly student who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, donned a sign that read “Genocide Jeff: Resign,” addressing Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong. He said the poster “was inspired by the genocide Joe chants.” The chants are a reference to how Joe Biden has handled the Palestine conflict.
“My main problem with Jeffrey Armstrong is his relentless defense of this institution’s cooperation and partnership with the military-industrial complex, so that’s Lockheed Martin and other companies like that,” he said.
Another Cal Poly student, plant sciences junior Soraya Reyes, said she went to the rally because “everything that’s happening in Palestine has been really heavy on my heart.”
She also explained the importance of workers’ rights and May Day as a former employee at a non-unionized Starbucks.
Correction, May 8: This article was corrected to clarify students voted to join the CSUEU and the presence of Cuesta College police officers at the rally.