Students, Community Groups and Veterans Walk in Solidarity with Gaza

 

Connecticut students, religious and community groups, and veterans are all walking for peace this Memorial Day week raising the cry for an end to the war and genocide in Gaza.

Scores of Yale University students waked out of their graduation ceremonies in solidarity with students in Gaza where schools have been reduced to rubble. Following on their encampments, the students called on Yale to divest its $40 billion endowment from military production complicit in Israel's assault.

Three days later a statewide coalition launched a three day Walk for Gaza. Participants joined a global movement to walk the length of Gaza in solidarity with those suffering from the ongoing violence. They demanded an immediate permanent ceasefire and end to unconditional US military aid to Israel.

The 25 mile walk included eight miles in New Haven, eight miles in Bridgeport and nine miles on the shoreline, stopping at Congressional offices and health care facilities. During the walk they raised funds for the United National Relief and Works Agency UNRAWA) the main source of humanitarian aid that the US abandoned this year.

On Thursday they met up with Veterans for Peace at a dinner at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. The veterans are walking through Connecticut on their way from Maine to Washington DC calling for a stop to endless wars.

The 700 mile peace walk passes through Connecticut in May, culminating with participation in Norwalk's annual Memorial Day Parade.

“No need to worry, they come in peace!” says their press release. “We just didn't want you to be surprised if you are driving this month and see a group of veterans carrying peace signs walking through your neighborhood.”

The walk will reach the nation's Capitol on July 4, Independence Day. “What these veterans want is independence from the dark prison of war and militarism so that our nation can focus its attention, energy, resources and creativity on addressing the real threats of nuclear war, climate collapse and future pandemics,” said the release, adding “the only way to address these global threats is collaboratively, through global cooperation.”

The Veterans for Peace route is from Plainfield to Branford arriving in New Haven on May 28 and then continuing to Norwalk on May 31. Daily evening events are open to the public. Information is available at https://peacewalk2024.org/get-involved/.