‘Carry them house’: Bay Space group rallies on campus for hostages’ return

Dozens of scholars and Bay Space residents participated in a automobile parade on Saturday afternoon to name for the return of individuals taken hostage by Hamas.

The parade happens amid a reported rise of hate crimes focusing on Jewish, Muslim and Arab college students on campus tied to tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Organized by each Stanford and non-Stanford group members, the parade began on Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos — about 25 minutes away from campus — finally making its approach up El Camino Actual to Stanford’s campus. Chants of “Carry them house” reverberated by the gang.

“Household and pals … all acquired collectively,” mentioned Dan Segev MBA ’24, who helped arrange the occasion. “There have been additionally folks from the group who determined to affix us.”

Contributors drove by the Oval in automobiles flanked with Israeli and U.S. flags. Banners held on the automobiles with photos of the hostages and indicators that learn “carry them house.” Organizers had coordinated with the Stanford Division of Transportation to arrange barricades previous to the occasion.

Segev mentioned group members had been impressed by comparable commemoration efforts happening worldwide.

“It’s the folks … That is unprecedented, that every one these individuals are held captive and most of the children which can be on the market are orphans,” Segev mentioned.

The caravan of automobiles concluded on the Oval, the place members then continued the rally on foot to White Plaza, the place a show commemorating hostages had been arrange. Greater than 240 folks had been taken hostage after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 shock assault on Israel.

Every picture of a hostage taken was accompanied by a pair of footwear and a crimson heart-shaped balloon. Walkers and wheelchairs had been arrange for homages of aged captives, and strollers had been arrange for these of kids.

“We wished to represent the quantity of individuals [kidnapped] and the number of ages … to recollect them … and never overlook they had been kidnapped,” mentioned Omer Shiran Cohen, a Ph.D. pupil within the Graduate Faculty of Enterprise who helped arrange the show.

Ravit Danino, a non-Stanford affiliated group member who co-organized the parade, mentioned every balloon was set as much as symbolize a person hostage. “As a result of there are various children, sadly, there’s [toy cars] and the bear that symbolize the children.”

“The hearts symbolize that our hearts are crying over what’s happening,” Segev mentioned. “Lots of these individuals who had been kidnapped had their household killed, murdered, burned. There are horrible tales popping out from there.” 

That is the second show to commemorate these taken hostage. For every week in White Plaza, an empty Shabbat desk was set-up by Hillel and the Stanford Israel Affiliation with 244 chairs to symbolize these taken hostage. 

“Everybody ought to do their greatest to speak what’s harm, what hurts them, and we are able to discuss collectively,” Segev mentioned.

“Bringing violence into this campus is one thing that’s unacceptable and needs to be condemned on all ranges. College students, leaders, everybody ought to condemn it as a result of there’s no approach there’s room for violence,” Segev mentioned.