Attacks on Lebanon spark protest at Angell Hall

Editor’s Note: Maryam Shafie is a former Daily staffer. Shafie did not contribute to this article.

Nearly 100 protesters gathered at the steps of Angell Hall on Sept. 23 as part of a national call to action from leaders of the Palestinian Youth Movement following attacks on Lebanon last week. The protest was organized by Students Allied for Freedom and Equality and the TAHRIR Coalition, composed of more than 90 pro-Palestine groups. 

Israel carried out a coordinated attack in Lebanon Sept. 17 during which the pagers of thousands of Hezbollah members exploded. The explosions killed a total of 12 people and wounded 2,800. The Sept. 17 attack was followed by another attack the next day in which walkie-talkies were detonated, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 450. The explosive materials were placed inside the communication devices prior to their arrival in Lebanon, according to officials briefed on the situation. 

Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, but the events of this past week mark a significant escalation. Sept. 23 marked one of the deadliest days in Lebanon since its civil war in 2006. At least 558 people were killed on Monday, and, as of Sept. 28, the overall death toll has risen to 720, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. 

Since Sept. 17, more than 1,800 people have been wounded in Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. Moreover, since Oct. 7, 2023, approximately 500,000 people have been displaced from Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. 

On Friday, Sept. 27, Israel launched an air-strike on Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut, killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah said they will continue to attack Israel as long as they continue their ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

Engineering senior Maryam Shafie began the event by speaking to protesters about the connection between Lebanon and Palestine. Shafie reminded protesters that Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 and attributed the recent assault on Lebanon to Israeli attempts to destabilize the region.  

“Today, Lebanon is bleeding because of its unwavering stance with the people of Palestine,” Shafie said. “The pain we witness mirrors the horrors that have plagued our Palestinian brothers and sisters for the past year. The same cruel genocidal tactics, the same fabricated stories used to justify the genocide in Gaza are now being spun to defend the crimes in Lebanon.”

Shafie emphasized that the fights against violence occurring in Lebanon and Palestine are connected, and applauded the resilience of civilians in those areas. 

“Lebanon and Gaza are united not just in their suffering but in their strength, their shared struggle for a future where their people are free, where their land is promised to them and where their children can wave to the sounds of birds instead of missiles,” Shafie said. “This fight is more than a struggle for survival, it is a testament to the courage of a people refusing to be silenced.” 

The start of Shafie’s speech was delayed as event organizers and the University of Michigan’s Division of Public Safety and Security were engaged in a conflict over usage of noise amplification devices to deliver speeches. 

In an email to The Michigan Daily, University spokesperson Colleen Mastony said the University welcomes dissent, advocacy and the expression of ideas, including those that are unpopular, upsetting or critical of the University. Jarvis made clear that although the University supports freedom of speech, students are held accountable for nonacademic misconduct under the Statement of Student Right and Responsibilities. 

“On Sept. 24, the Division of Public Safety and Security advised the group on the steps of Angell Hall that if they used amplified sound they could be given a verbal warning for trespass for disrupting university operations,” Mastony wrote. “Classes were being held at that time.” 

The protesters ultimately agreed to forego usage of megaphones and other voice amplifiers. 

In an interview with The Daily, a SAFE media representative shared concerns about the presence of law enforcement officers at the protest. The source requested to remain anonymous citing fear of retaliation and potential for heightened scrutiny and surveillance. 

“The protest remained peaceful throughout, yet the police presence was high,” the representative said. “It sends a concerning message when law enforcement responds so heavily to students exercising their right to protest, especially when the focus of the demonstration is often related to issues of policing and systemic injustice.”

Over the past year SAFE, the TAHRIR Coalition and other pro-Palestine activist organizations have clashed with local law enforcement. Last month, one U-M community member and three other individuals who were not affiliated with the University were arrested during a pro-Palestine “die-in” at Festifall. In May, DPSS and the Ann Arbor Police Department used pepper spray on protesters while clearing the Gaza solidarity encampment that had been set up on the Diag. Protesters were also arrested at a demonstration outside the University of Michigan Art Museum in May and a sit-in at Ruthven in November. The SAFE media representative emphasized that the presence of law enforcement will not prevent the organization from expressing their views. 

“This attempt at intimidation aims to discourage participation and voices that most need to be heard, but we refuse to be silenced,” the representative said. “Ultimately, it’s crucial to reiterate that today’s protest was in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and Palestine, uplifting their resistance under the current Zionist oppression and honoring the martyrs in the struggle for liberation.”

Although the speeches given during Tuesday’s protest focused on the political context of the assault on Lebanon, some speakers shared more personal connections. LSA senior Rawan Elhusseini spoke about her family in Lebanon. 

“At this current moment my grandmother remains in southern Lebanon,” Elhusseini said. “My grandpa and aunt, before they fled, urged her to leave. I learned a lot from my grandma growing up, but yesterday, I learned the most important lesson yet. Staying and enduring the bombing, even potentially losing her life was worth more to her than fleeing and leaving her house and her land. Today, as I stand here, I hold my grandma’s spirit in my heart, she is a reminder that Lebanese people are born with resistance in their blood … just like Palestinians.” 

Following the speeches, protesters marched on South University Avenue and through the Diag, ending the rally at the steps of Angell Hall. 

Daily Staff Reporter Sasha Kalvert can be reached at skalvert@umich.edu.

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