An encampment for Palestine at Mexico’s largest university

The Palestinian flag flies in front of the Central Library at the Autonomous National University of Mexico in Mexico City. Photo © María Ruíz.

Reportage • Ricardo Balderas • May 9, 2024 • Leer en castellano

Sofía González thinks through her words carefully, and speaks with the seriousness of a longtime participant in social struggle. She’s a student who has managed to carve out her own space at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. 

She’s also a spokesperson for the Inter-University Popular Assembly in Solidarity with Palestine (AIPSP), which has joined the movement against genocide in Gaza and erected an encampment at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City.

The AIPSP’s first communique demands an “end to the genocide and zionist occupation" of Gaza. It also calls for breaking diplomatic relations between Mexico and Israel, an end to Israeli training of Mexican armed forces, and an end to academic relations between the UNAM and Israeli universities.

Professors and students sell books on Marxism and feminism under a tent at the center of the camp. It is an oasis of discussion among students and teachers, imbued with a palpable sense of empathy. Participants condemn the genocide, demand that Mexico break off relations with Israel, and take part in an international student uprising.

"The repression is intolerable. This encampment is a response to what’s happening in Gaza, in solidarity with the people there, and also a response to what happened at universities in the United States," said González. "These are the issues that bring us together.”

"We held a meeting, discussed key points and we’ll continue mobilizing until they stop killing Palestinians," she said.

Later in the afternoon, as the heat eased a bit, those in attendance began to hand out water, food, and leaflets. 

UNAM stands up

"We are setting up a camp against the savage genocide being committed in Gaza and in solidarity with students in the United States and France," said Guadalupe Carrasco Licea, a university professor, at a press conference held at the launch of the encampment last Thursday.

The hope is that this student-led movement will inspire activists working on other causes to come together to work for peace and denounce death. 

Activists responded quickly to the professor’s call to join the encampment. Feminists, queer organizers, Marxist collectives, trade unions and even artists lent their voice to the demand for a ceasefire.

University authorities have neither evicted nor attempted to dismantle the encampment. Instead, they have stated that "tolerance is an inalienable value." There has been no violence against the campers. Some students have even said the UNAM gave them drinking water.

The UNAM encampment started just as police in the United States were evicting similar protests there, arresting or detaining thousands of students. "We haven’t communicated with other students; we’re an international movement and although we are not in contact with them, we know there is reciprocity among university students, and we feel accompanied, we share slogans, tasks and desires," said Gonzalez.

Photo of the encampment in the main plaza of the UNAM campus © María Ruíz.

An assembly for Palestine

There have been some attempts to dismiss this student struggle by raising questions about the resources the students have used to organize the encampment. But the reality is actually quite straightforward.

But the pro-Palestinian contingent requires only water, flags and tents; their main demand is for solidarity and peace in the Middle East. The student group "Izquierda Revolucionaria," the Libres y Combatientes bookstore and the Union of University Students, all of which have deep roots in university politics, convened the encampment.

It began on Thursday, May 2 with the press conference. There are approximately 30 tents with more than 50 students participating. In addition to their activities as members of the UNAM community, these students are building their idea of a better world. 

Assemblies and encampments are common practices at UNAM. There is an ongoing feminist encampment at the Faculty of Philosophy led by the Mujeres Organizadas de la Facultad de Filosofía (MOFI) collective, which demands rights and safety for female students and professors. 

For its part, the Inter-University Assembly has gained support from a number of institutions and universities including the Service for Peace and Justice (SERPAJ), Silvana Rabinovich from El Colegio de México (COLMEX) and a contingent from the Autonomous Metropolitan University Iztapalapa campus (UAM).

Activism is part of university life, as protests arise out of the students’ desire to raise awareness.

"We call on young people and workers to participate in the solidarity actions," reads the statement that the student activists issued. "Our brothers and sisters in Palestine are not alone. We will not stand by while Gaza is drowned in rubble and blood."