MIT Students Protest Israel Funding, Demand Divestment

by Patrick Wilson

November 10, 2023

Cambridge, Massachusetts – Hundreds of MIT students are gathered in Lobby 7 of the Student Center today, November 10, to protest the Institute’s funding of research that supports Israeli apartheid and the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.

The protest, organized by the MIT-wide Coalition for Palestine, began yesterday and is expected to continue today. The protesters are demanding that MIT divest from companies that support the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and that it stop funding research that is used by the Israeli military. They argue that MIT’s support for Israeli research and its investments in Israeli companies are complicit in the Israeli government’s human rights abuses against Palestinians.

The MIT administration has defended its decision to continue funding Israeli research and to invest in Israeli companies. The administration says that it is committed to supporting academic freedom and scientific collaboration. However, the protesters argue that the administration’s support for Israeli research and its investments in Israeli companies are not consistent with its commitment to human rights.

The protest at MIT is part of a growing movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction (BDS) Israel. The BDS movement is a global campaign that aims to pressure Israel to comply with international law and to respect Palestinian rights.

Activists and academics from around the world are watching the MIT protest closely. The protest is seen as a sign that the BDS movement is gaining momentum, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the debate about the relationship between universities and the Israeli government.

If you are interested in attending the MIT protest, it is taking place in Lobby 7 of the Student Center. The protest is expected to continue until 12:15 AM tonight.

Please note that the MIT administration has warned the protesters that they may be suspended if they remain in the lobby after 12:15 AM.

** This piece was created with the help of ai.