The students are peacefully exercising their right of free speech on university campuses which profess to be places of free inquiry, expression and debate. The Pro-Palestine encampment on the Plaza of Stanford does not obstruct any walkers or bicyclists passing by. I have walked by there several times. It is a quiet, peaceful place with signs of expression against the genocide that is taking place in occupied Gaza and, more recently, the West Bank.

Talk to any Palestinian who has family and friends in those territories. The family and friends are either dead or homeless and hungry, and they are unable to leave even if they want to.

Our government and tax dollars are paying for the slaughter of more than tens of thousands of innocent people including children. Bravo to these courageous students for taking a noble stand against persecution and genocide.