Outside the first debate for California’s Senate race in Bovard Auditorium Monday night, a group of about 200 protesters demanded a ceasefire in Gaza while handing out leaflets to passersby. 

Demonstrators chanted, “Democrats pick a side, human rights or genocide”; three of four contenders in the debate — U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, joined by Republican Steve Garvey — are Democrats. Signs at the demonstration read, “Your constituents are calling ceasefire.” Only one of the candidates, Lee, has called for a ceasefire, while another, Porter, has called for a bilateral ceasefire. 

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Members of the Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation at USC, Nodutdol and USC Students for Justice in Palestine attended the protest.

Estee Chandler, a USC alum and representative for JVP, said three-quarters of Democrats are calling for a ceasefire. If candidates want voters to vote for them, they have to listen to the calls for a ceasefire, Chandler said.

“Young Jews, allies and USC students know what’s best for the world forward,” Chandler said. “They know where our tax dollars should be focused, and it shouldn’t be where politicians are sending it.”

Jazmin Mikhael, a senior majoring in political science, said protesters aimed to gather a large group of people to protest the debate, but the turnout was much greater than she expected. 

“It was [about] letting the people who are in charge know that we’re here and we’re trying to make a statement and that we’re not just going to stay quiet,” Mikhael said.