Student Coalition for Justice in Palestine Holds Vigil for Lives Lost in Palestine, Lebanon

Olivia Silvey ’25

Editor-in-Chief

Around 60 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered on Oct. 7, 2024 at a vigil for the lives lost in Palestine and Lebanon in the last year. The vigil was held on Gates Quad around the Palestine Solidarity Memorial tent at 4:30 p.m. The program included students performing poems, three religious prayers and remarks by faculty and community members. 

Claire Schrecengost ’25 began the programming with a brief introduction on the purpose of the vigil, and an explanation for the roses passed out to each attendee. Each rose represented 440 civilians killed by Israel. After Schrecengost finished, Sarah Dajani ’26 spoke about the massacres of Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023. Next, Jules Bourbeau ’25 led the Christian prayer, followed by three representatives from Hartford Jewish Organizing Collective leading the Jewish prayer. Basel X from X finished the prayers with a Muslim prayer in both Arabic and English. 

After the prayers, Gabbie Marcuccio ’25, Maribel Mendoza ’26 and Dajani all recited poems. Some administrators showed up during Marcuccio’s reading, including President Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Vice President Joe DiChristina and Chief of Staff Jason Rojas, although the three did not stay until the end. In between poetry readings, Professor Ibrahim Shikaki spoke, reflecting on his discussion following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in comparison to the strengthened community today. Finally, Jenna Rabbah, an alum from the University of Connecticut, ended the vigil by sharing her grief about the lives lost in her family in Palestine. 

Vigil organizers passed out electric candles and encouraged attendees to place both their candle and rose by the tent as they left.