Over 100 people gathered in solidarity for Palestine at the Rise Up For Gaza Protest on Oct. 4 at City Market Park, Kansas City.
Oct. 7 marks the two-year anniversary of the War in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian KC residents and community groups rallied from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., demanding sanctions after Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“History is not made in boardrooms, nor in an oval office, and we know deep down that the tide has turned on Israel,” said Nate Davis, a 30-year-old pro-Palestinian of The Party for Socialism and Liberation KC (PSL).
From Oct. 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024, the U.S. has given a record of at least $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel, according to a report by Brown University. Organizers called on U.S. Reps. Sharice Davids and Emanuel Cleaver to co-sponsor the Block the Bomb Act (HR 3565), which would halt further weapon funding to Israel.
For many, the protest was more than a call to action. Families brought their children, handing them Palestinian flags to wave. One protestor’s dog wore a sign that read, “Free Palestine! Feed Palestine!”
A senior couple joined in on the chants by drumming along with the speakers, demanding freedom for Palestine.
“It’s so hard to witness and know about the suffering that’s going on,” the 69-year-old attendee said.
The event featured speeches and organizing efforts by groups determined to help Palestinians gain freedom, advocating for their right to return to their homeland and calling for an immediate end to the occupation. Participating organizations included Al-Hadaf KC, The Party for Socialism and Liberation KC (PSL), Free Palestine KC (FPKC), and Boots on the Ground Midwest.
“We want Palestinians to know they have not been forgotten,” said Davis. “We still hear their voices and continue to fight for their justice, freedom, and sovereignty.”
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 2 million Gazans internally displaced and lacking consistent access to food, clean water, and medical care. The United Nations has warned that Gaza faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, as ongoing restrictions continue to limit the delivery of aid and basic supplies.
“I know a lot of other help is needed monetarily, so we have people out here collecting donations that will go straight to Palestinian families,” Davis said. “Any little bit that we are able to collectively bring and give to them is life-changing for a lot of people.”
UMKC students at the protest noted the ties Gaza has to Kansas City.
Erin Smith, a sophomore biology major on the pre-med track at UMKC, first learned about the Gaza war in 2024.
“I got kind of tired of just watching, and I wanted to do something about it,” Smith said. Pursuing healthcare, she hopes to support Palestine more directly. “I’m not sure how yet, but I want to find a way,” she said.
Jennifer Hokanson, a UMKC senior liberal arts major, attended the protest to support the speaker of the KC Tenants Ceasefire Team.
“We’re right behind them,” Hokanson said. “Today’s political environment is leaning towards something very dangerous.”
A speaker from KC Tenants, who asked that their full name not be used, graduated from UMKC in 2009 and shared the story of a family in Gaza, one of five whose experiences they highlighted.
“There are so many stories – if we told them all, we would go till the end of time and still not be finished,” the KC Tenants speaker said. “God gives me hope, and after God comes the people of Palestine, who continue every day. So when I’m tired – which is all the time – I just think about them, and I’ll never stop.”
UMKC students can sign onto the Block the Bombs to Israel letter, which urges Kansas City’s representatives to end the delivery of major U.S. weapons to Israel. Students can also stay informed by following local community organizations and keeping an eye out for upcoming events.
