Students at several Chicago high schools are protesting the war in Gaza on Wednesday by first demonstrating in their schools then marching to encampments at the University of Chicago and DePaul University.

Anti-war protests have swept college campuses in recent weeks as students support Palestinians in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, decry what they call censorship from their universities and call on institutions to divest from weapons manufacturers and companies supporting Israel.

Some Chicago Public Schools students joined those efforts with sit-in demonstrations at some schools throughout the day before heading to the University of Chicago to support college students.

• RELATED STORY
• Education

Northwestern under fire as ADL Midwest calls for university president to resign, three students file suit

read more

Hundreds of CPS kids last held a walk-out and protest in January against the war in Gaza and in support of a City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire.

CPS officials said students have a “fundamental constitutional right to free expression, and Chicago Public Schools encourages students to take an active role in civic life.” The district allows students 30 minutes to participate in protests during school hours.

“Chicago Public Schools also has an obligation to ensure a safe school environment for all students and staff,” the district said in a statement.

CPS sent guidance to school administrators to ensure demonstrations are “carried out in the least disruptive manner possible.” The district said it will investigate any reports of discrimination or harassment against students — both those participating and not — and anyone found to have harassed a peer will face discipline.

“We know that this is a very emotional and difficult time for many of our students, families, and staff, especially those of Jewish and Muslim faiths, those who trace their national origin to Israel or Palestine, and those who have connections to communities there,” Jones College Prep Principal Kerry Dolan wrote in an email to parents. “We know that many families feel frustrated and hurt not just by the events happening overseas, but about how others are perceiving and reacting to these events.”

The school postponed a “Decision Day” celebration marking the deadline for seniors to commit to a college until Friday.

A Jones College Prep senior named Atticus, who didn’t want their last name published, said about 100 students at the downtown campus participated in the sit-in.

“At the end of the day, we’re all human, and this is a human rights violation,” Atticus said. “Time and time again, we see it on the news, we see it on our phones, we see it everywhere, and it only makes sense to stand up for this cause.”

Atticus acknowledged Jones had some antisemitic incidents before the war in Gaza, including a student wearing a 1930s-era military uniform to school as a Halloween costume. So speakers at the sit-in took care to remove any language that could be perceived as antisemitic from speeches.

But Atticus said they feel accusations of antisemitism in pro-Palestine protests, as well as the voices of Jewish students who support Israel, sometimes drown out those who oppose Israeli actions.

About 15 Jones students took a CTA bus to join a group of around 30 kids from Kenwood Academy High School, Hancock College Prep and Kennedy High School who marched through Hyde Park to the University of Chicago encampment.

On the 1.5-mile walk to UChicago, the group chanted “Gaza, Gaza don’t you cry, we will never let you die,” “Biden, Biden you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide” and “No more weapons, no more war, cease-fire is what we’re fighting for.”

They were greeted by cheers at the encampment and led chants of “the students united will never be defeated.”

Another march to DePaul University’s campus apparently didn’t materialize.

A’Yanna, a Kenwood student and co-president of the student group Chi Youth 4 Justice, said it was nice to see students from multiple schools come together around a common cause.

“It’s important that high schoolers have their say in this because we are also against apartheid,” A’Yanna said.

The CPS protests in January largely went on peacefully with a couple allegations of harassment.

At a press conference Wednesday organized by ADL Midwest, American Jewish Committee and the Jewish United Fund condemning the CPS walkouts, Jones senior Mira Rosenblum said she expressed concerns to the administration ahead of the January walkout and her principal said, “I genuinely do not believe anyone participating in the walkout poses a threat to our larger student body. Nor do I believe anyone wishes harm to anyone at Jones.”

Those CPS walkouts in January largely went on peacefully around the city with a couple of allegations of harassment, one against a Palestinian student and another against a Jewish student.

Contributing: Sarah Karp