From the Vietnam War to the ongoing Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, university students have consistently led the charge against imperialism and militarism. This article explores the evolution of student activism, drawing parallels between the anti-war movements of the 1960s and today’s fight for Palestinian liberation, highlighting the role of counterculture, social media, and intersectionality in shaping modern campus resistance.

The recent pro-Palestine protests occurring on college campuses across the country, including UCLA’s own Palestinian Solidarity Encampment (PSE), have garnered widespread criticism and have been met with extreme police responses. Student protests of the past and present continue to prove that freedom movements will persist so long as systemic issues go unaddressed by those in power. Understanding this history on both a local and national scale can emphasize the importance of questioning dominant narratives, the power of community-building and actions of solidarity.