This post was updated Oct. 7 at 8:44 p.m.

More than 70 protesters marched across campus Wednesday to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The protest, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA, started at Bruin Plaza around noon. Demonstrators held Palestinian flags while marching to Murphy Hall, Dickson Plaza and Wilson Plaza. 

The demonstration aimed to recognize the Palestinians who have died since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, which has killed 74,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The military campaign in Gaza began after Palestinian political party and militant group Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people, according to the BBC. 

Attendees held white kites and signs reading, “We will honor all our martyrs,” and “Long Live the Intifada.”

“Today we are honoring the freedom that Palestinians deserve, the autonomy and the liberation that is inevitable for the Palestinian people,” a speaker said. “When you hold those kites, you should know that you’re holding the heart of Palestine.”

Organizers read the names and stories of Palestinians killed in the war and shared poems. Protesters also called on the UC to divest from companies associated with the Israeli military and to abolish campus policing. 

About 30 UCPD officers and several UCLA Student Affairs employees monitored the protest as the demonstrators moved.

Meron Adumer, a first-year political science student, said seeing the protesters inspired her to join the group. The demonstration recognized the need for peace, she added.

“I’ve never really been able to really interact with it as closely as I have right now,” Adumer said. “This has definitely inspired me to try and make change in more of an impactful way.” 

Protesters stood outside of Powell Library around 1:30 p.m. chanting, “UC, UC, you will see, Palestine will be free.” 

A Student Affairs employee told the group that they had to move to a different location because Dickson Plaza is not a designated area for public expression under UCLA’s Time, Place and Manner policies. Protesters then moved to Wilson Plaza. 

A representative of UCLA Anakbayan – an anti-imperialist Filipino student organization – spoke of unity between Filipinos and Palestinians and recognized Palestinian journalists, women and children in a speech.

Organizers circled back to Bruin Plaza to end the demonstration around 2:15 p.m., urging attendees to continue protesting and calling for divestment.

“We honor our history, our martyrs, and every survivor,” a speaker said. “We must recommit ourselves to the people. We have not forgotten, nor have we forgiven.”