28-02-2025
San Diego students stage ‘flash mob' protests in support of Palestine
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Protests took place at the San Diego City and Mesa colleges Thursday afternoon as students demanded the San Diego Community College District divest from companies that do business with Israel.
The protest at City College began at 1 p.m. at the corner of C and 16th streets.
It opened with a flash mob featuring a traditional Palestinian folk dance called dabke, followed by student and faculty speakers.
According to organizers with Students for Justice in Palestine, the dance originated among Levantine farmers and became a celebration dance during weddings and social gatherings.
Participants prepared for the flash mob by practicing with Suzan Hamideh, the cultural and event director for the House of Palestine of the Balboa Park International Cottages.
Hamideh previously held a dabke workshop at City College on Feb. 18 as part of its World Cultures program.
Less than a year ago, Pro-Palestine demonstrations were seen at other San Diego college campuses, including the University of California, San Diego and the University of San Diego.
Those protests were in the form of encampments and walkouts, which eventually led campus police to respond to the incidents.
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