Just a few hours after NYPD violently squashed an encampment at Columbia University in NYC, a WhatsApp message appeared early in the morning on May 1st, 2024 with an invitation to a channel on an entirely different communications network (looks like some of these students had fully digested an important article on IDF’s questionable AI endeavors on +972 Magazine that makes WhatsApp reportedly complicit in the genocide and a follow-up article by techie journalist Paul Biggar further exploring links between WhatsApp and IDF’s Lavender AI system).
Once you follow the invitation, you are welcomed with messages linking to a form that includes a detailed list of items ranging from everything that goes into creating an encampment–from outright cash donations (there happens to be a Target about 30 feet away from the UCSD encampment) to tents to protective wooden pallets to wipes to power bars to various hygiene products–you get the picture. It was extremely detailed and thorough.
A few hours later another message came requesting community support in terms of developing a large crowd around the encampment (this worked because I met friends from all over San Diego at the encampment). Later in the evening, the messages revolved around the overwhelming community response with regards to requested supplies that had apparently reached capacity—even cash donations, mind you! Let’s just say I got a little teary eyed when I dropped off a box of face masks, wipes and couple prayer rugs to the designated supply drop-off location. The room was literally packed with everything detailed above.
Let’s move on to the actual encampment. I didn’t know exactly where it was being held on campus, but I followed a sprinkling of floating kufiyas. I arrived at the encampment around 8PM and stayed through 10:30. About 30 minutes following my arrival as I chatted with a friend from a northern enclave of San Diego, the call to prayer for Isha occurred. The encampment had large prayer rugs setup on one side of it—almost like a buffer. All the Muslim students joined in, with non-Muslims standing to the side, either watching over the people praying or generally observing what was happening. The gravity of the moment—especially from a dawa (i.e. act of propagating Islam) standpoint was noticeable. If anything, the peaceful nature of the protest was more than apparent to non-Muslims and the broader public in solidarity with the pro-Palestine, anti-genocide, pro-humanity movements (all three are mutually inclusive, but I listed them anyway for those who might think otherwise).
Now for some general observations of the atmosphere. I know this will disappoint the haters, but general vibe at the encampment was literally one that was gushing with love and solidarity. Bassam Haddad of Jadaliya had a good description of some of the encampments he visited: “almost Zen-like.” That description fits perfectly, in my opinion. I saw a student come in with large bags of home-cooked food for members of the encampment. A person at the entrance did double duty: along with standing guard, they also signed in new students appearing with a bag containing a change of clothes and personal supplies to weather them through the night or nights, assuming dictator schools allow them the time and space. Contrary to reports in mainstream media, I only saw a handful of individuals inside the actual encampment area who weren’t UCSD students. These are very intelligent students who have obviously learned very quickly from other encampments.
A few centimeters below the energetic & “zen-like” surface lurked a lingering anxiety that was starting to bubble as I made my way out of the area. I overheard a member of the administration discussing with one of the cops what happened to UCLA students the previous night (this is when they were attacked by a group of Zionist hooligans). I heard chatter of worried students when three cops rolled in to do some sort of inspection of the camp from the outside. One male student told another to leave the encampment entrance and go elsewhere so that he wouldn’t risk getting arrested if anything happened (he might have been an international student?).
At around 10PM, there was a surprise visit by Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour who gave an inspiring speech to get everyone in attendance pumped up. She ended her speech with an invitation for protestors to participate in a popular Palestinian dance known as the Dabke that involves people linking arms and dancing in a circle. This certainly got the party started and capped an emotionally charged day of building an encampment while at the same time watching encampments at other schools around the country getting torn down.
UPDATE: I plan to visit through the weekend and will post updates below after subsequent visits.
Faisaling.com 
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