For Mastaani Hina, a Pakistani-American and Arizona State State alumna, standing up for what you believe in is not just an act of courage but a responsibility.
On Monday at 5 p.m., Hina was among around 50 people gathered on the corner of Van Buren and Second Street to support Palestinian liberation. Students, families, and activists alike marched from outside The Arizona Republic’s headquarters to ASU’s Civic Space Park.
“We do not want our state to be complacent with genocide,” said Hina, who helped organize the march.
Fighting broke out on Oct. 7 in Israel after Hamas launched an attack, killing and capturing more than 1,000 people. Israeli Defense Forces mounted a swift response, triggering a war between the nation and Hamas, which controls the besieged Gaza Strip.
Since the attack, the death toll in Gaza exceeded 25,000 , according to the euronews.com, as of Monday.
“Everything happening in Palestine is the reason why we’re here,” said Ezra Rizo, another one of the protest’s organizers. “Our hearts are really broken for the Palestinians. We’re here to give them a voice and to fight for them.”