Photo: WBZ NewsRadio/Emma Friedman
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — When college students went on summer break, the encampment style protests for Palestine hit pause. That's when Community Encampment for Palestine stepped in.
On Saturday, Fawaz Abusharkh and other organizers gathered on Cambridge Common to renew calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The Community Encampment for Palestine and other local groups set up informational booths and rows of chairs for anyone that wanted to come, sit, share, or listen.
“We call it an encampment but it's more like a camp about education, about visibility, about spreading the word,” Abusharkh told WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman.
Abusharkh grew up in Gaza and has been advocating for a permanent ceasefire at similar events throughout the summer. He said he wanted to continue students work while they were on break over the summer.
The weekend-long event had speakers from several local universities, doctors, veterans, as well as a time for the public to share and discuss during the open mic timeslot.
Jill El-Ashkar, with Northshore for Palestine, addressed the crowd.
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“I think when we have these events, we can educate people and stand together,” she said.
El-Ashkar shared that her husband is from Gaza and most of his family is still there. She said she didn't think of the event as a protest, but more of an educational experience.
"Everybody come have a good day, learn something and go home with a positive feeling," she added.
The City of Cambridge did not allow the camp overnight.
A spokesperson for the City told WBZ NewsRadio that there was a police presence to "provide a safe environment for those who are present and to ensure that the event is peaceful."
WBZ's Emma Friedman did not see any counter-protestors while at the event and saw a group of policemen standing outside the fenced off area.
WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.
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