Students at Saint Mary’s College founded Solidarity SMC this year, a club that, in the same vein as Solidarity ND, aims to “educate and organize students to play a helpful and principled role in the movement for social justice,” according to Belle Tower. The club’s mission is shaped by “democratic socialism” and “the inherent dignity of the human person.” Solidarity SMC’s first event was a vigil on Tuesday to honor the lives lost in Palestine during the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
Estimates at the two-year mark of the conflict predict over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to Reuters. This includes around 20,000 children, or 30% of those who died. 466 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,951 wounded since Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7, which killed some 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages.
Solidarity SMC vice president Ally Krause, a senior and first year graduate student at Saint Mary’s, said the brand-new club hoped to honor all who had died in the conflict.
“I think it's really important to remember that life is sacred, especially at a Catholic campus. [It's] really important to mourn those that we've lost. This is not a political event. This is an event strictly to grieve life [that] we’ve lost,” Krause said.
For many students, the vigil provided an important opportunity to grieve and connect with others struggling with the conflict overseas. Noha Chalulu, a junior at Saint Mary’s, said she was inspired and comforted by the number of students who attended.
“I’ve been having a hard time dealing with what's been going on in the world, and I figured this would be a great space to be with other people while I sit with my emotions, because I think that's been the hardest part, was feeling like there’s no one else that relates, or it feels like we can't be as vocal about it.” Chalulu said.
Victoria Holt, a junior at Saint Mary’s, said she agreed with this sentiment.
“I feel like bringing light to the fact that there is a free Palestine… would be great if we could just do that,” she said.
Holt said she felt as though campus groups had not provided a space for direct discussion or awareness of the Israel-Hamas war or events happening in Gaza. She said Solidarity SMC was able to bring some of those things to Saint Mary’s in a respectful and meaningful way.
Solidarity SMC board members led the vigil, beginning with opening remarks by the club’s president, Mish Yepez.
“Now we gathered here in solidarity, to mourn, to grieve, to care” she said. “We are here to honor lives that have been lost and stand in solidarity for those who continue to suffer.”
As the vigil was an interfaith event, Solidarity SMC provided prayer from multiple faith traditions. Dee Cates, a junior at Saint Mary’s, offered up a Catholic prayer and intercessions for those that have been lost and those who continue to suffer.
“In the name of the weak, those who live in fear, prisoners of war, and those who have been tortured in any part of the world without distinction, may they find safety in a dignified hand,” she said.
Ella Eitniear, a junior, shared a Protestant prayer and reflection, continuing a cry for hope.
“By knowing you, we have known your gentle peace, God, and we pray that it would descend upon Palestine,” she said. “Make us aware of the ways that we can work towards justice here in the United States and guide us to seek love, peace, and restoration for Palestine in any way we can.”
Fareeha Mouzan concluded with a Muslim du’a and reflection spoken in both Arabic and English.
“Oh Allah, grant them true reliance upon you and good thoughts about you,” she said. “Oh Lord, grant them the good of this world, and the gear after, and protect them from their content.”
Solidarity SMC provided attendees with candles, and attendees passed their flames around the vigil until the light had been shared with all. A few moments of silence were given for those who have been killed. Solidarity SMC concluded the vigil by reading English translations of poems written by late Palestinian poet Hiba Abu Nada, sharing messages of hope in the face of tragedy.
“Oh little light in me, don’t die. Even if all the galaxies in the world close in. Ok little light in me, say, enter my heart in peace,” Abu Nada wrote. The verse came from one of the final poems she wrote before being killed by an Israeli air strike 13 days after the start of the war.
Attendees said the vigil for Palestine provided the tri-campus community an opportunity to confront their emotions about the Israel-Hamas war in community with each other, while also spreading clear awareness of the tragedy of the lives lost.
“Personally, being from Palestine and being Palestinian, this was really important to me, and I love seeing the diversity and the [advocacy] at Saint Mary’s,” freshman Rana Amouri said. “I think a lot of people forget that this affects people all over the world.”
Yasmin Lopez-Padilla, a freshman at Saint Mary’s, noted the importance of continued discussion about the Israel-Hamas war.
“Seeing [the war] over the past few years is absolutely heartbreaking. So having the ceasefire, it’s great,” she said. “There’s still a lot more that can be done. I just feel like going to this kind of stuff is important because it spreads awareness.”
The vigil was Solidarity SMC’s first official event, and it was one Krause said reflected the organization’s mission to focus on justice and human rights causes and actions. The club wants future events to align with this mission and hopes to be strengthened by the values of the Saint Mary’s community.
“I just think it’s really important to know that … our actions are uniquely based and rooted in justice, which is one of our core tenants here at Saint Mary’s,” Krause said. “Everything that we do is striving towards a more just, equal [and] peaceful community.”
