An unusual sight surrounded the Palo Alto High School campus on May 10: metal barricades to keep students on campus and away from a pro-Palestinian protest and march connected with President Joe Biden’s visit.
According to Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson, the decision to keep students on campus was crucial because the situation was unpredictable.
“So the issue is, all you need is one crazoid to cause a problem,” Berkson said. “For it to become a huge problem and it wouldn’t necessarily be the protesters. It can come from either side. You just don’t know, it’s not predictable.”
Although some students objected to the constraints, some understood the administration’s reasoning.
“I heard some kids say they were going to counter-protest the protest, so I think barricades were necessary to a degree,” junior Noah Kim said.
At noon, a crowd of around 50 protesters gathered at Town and Country, and the chatter of students making their usual lunchtime visit to Town and Country was replaced with the chanting of protesters demanding action from Biden regarding the war in Gaza.
At 1 p.m. the protesters marched down Embarcadero Road and to the intersection of Addison Avenue, where Biden’s re-election fundraising event was held — and pro-Israeli counter-protesters were waiting — at former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s house.
Reza, a protester who wishes to withhold his surname due to safety concerns, said he is no longer voting for Biden this upcoming election due to the way he has handled the war in Gaza.
“Thirteen thousand children have already been killed by bombs that we have sent,” Reza said. “The president that I have voted for is sending arms that are doing this, causing the suffering of innocent people who have nothing to do with politics. And that’s not the American way.”
Outside of Mayer’s house, Eran, an Israeli citizen who requested to withhold his last name, said he attended the protest to show his support for President Biden running for reelection.
“So we came here to support Biden because he has [been] supporting Israel since Oct. 7,” Eran said. “We need to make sure he understands that we support him and we like the way he supports Israel.”
A protester, who wishes to remain anonymous and who is part of Standing Together, an Israeli Jewish and Palestinian group leading the anti-war movement in Israel said the organization’s mission is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“[We want to] release the hostages, release the prisoners, stop starving people in Gaza, and they are for equality of both Israeli Jews and Palestinians,” she said. “And you know, because that is the basis for safety and peace.”
Protester Zach Klieman, a Jewish American and a member of Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America urges immediate action to stop atrocities in Gaza.
“While we appreciate moves towards a ceasefire, and we appreciate what I’ve heard about the recent blocking of weapons sending, we need more and we need it faster,” Klieman said. “There needs to be complete isolation of Israel diplomatically on the world stage, namely the recognition of Palestine at the UN.”
Protester and Paly parent Edith Cohen said she condemns Hamas’ treatment of Israelis in Gaza.
“There is no choice,” Cohen said. “Nobody wants to hurt civilians or kill children. The reason for the situation in Gaza is because Hamas took control of Israel. They are extremely oppressive towards their own people. …They murdered hundreds of Palestinians. They oppressed LGBTQ people. They oppressed women. …They don’t recognize our [Israel’s] right to exist.”
Cohen adds that in Israel, where the population is 20 percent Arab, people live in unity, unlike in Gaza, where minorities are severely discriminated against.
“There is no apartheid [in Israel],” Cohen said. “There is no desire to genocide. People want to live together to coexist in a respectful way… The goal is to never kill civilians. The goal is to dismantle that terrorist organization [Hamas].”