Community members and students gathered at the University of Missouri Monday to protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and other protests across the country.
More than 300 protesters called for the university to share how it invests its endowment fund and remove their support from any organizations that support Israel.
MU spokesperson Christian Basi said the university uses an investment management firm to invest its funds on the university's behalf. He said the university will disclose that information with anyone who asks — and that no one at MU has yet asked for that information.
Sadia Moumita is a senior at the University of Missouri.
“So, I would like to see them disclose,” Mourmita said, “and to stop funding Israeli enterprises that are making money off of the killing and displacement of Palestinian people.”
Moumita said they are also looking for more support from university leadership. She said UM System President Mun Choi first visited with Muslim students in January but had been meeting with Jewish students since October. However, MU spokesperson Christian Basi said university leadership was in touch with Muslim student organizations shortly after the Israel-Hamas war started and have since been consistently in touch with several student groups.
Freshman Melissa Tran heard about the protest through Instagram and said she attended to show support for Palestinians.
“I just think it's wonderful that so many people participated in the walkout today because it is hard to fight when you feel like there's not many people who agree with you.”
The demonstration lasted around two hours, included a march through Francis Quadrangle and ended peacefully.
