Roughly 20 students and community members participated in a “Solidarity Vigil” Tuesday at the  Trousdale North Entrance of campus for victims of Israel’s war in Gaza and Israel’s incursion in Lebanon. 

USC Students for Justice in Palestine, the USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation and the USC Divest from Death Coalition hosted the vigil. The groups organized previous protests unaffiliated with the University.

Organizers rolled out sheets of paper with a list of names of people killed in Gaza since Oct. 7 under a banner reading “DIVEST FROM DEATH USC.” They placed candles at the corners of the papers. The list, last updated Sept. 20, was sourced from Healthcare Workers Watch – Palestine, an initiative led by Palestinian healthcare professionals to “monitor and bring attention to attacks on healthcare facilities and workers across Palestine.”

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The groups also displayed a list of 191 names from Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

A media liaison for SJP, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from the University, said they were not as concerned with Tuesday’s election as much as they were about the Israel Defense Force’s violent military action in the Middle East.

“Americans tend to become hyperly [sic] focused on everything that’s going on this country when elections roll around and we refuse that tendency tonight, especially as a genocide continues to rage on in Gaza as Israel’s genocidal war begins to spread throughout the Middle East,” the liaison said.

The vigil-goers participated in a 10-minute period of silence to grieve the victims killed by Israel’s war in Gaza and Israel’s strikes in Lebanon. Participants walked around to view the names and laid flowers on the paper. The liaison did not name an SJP-preferred candidate in the presidential election because of a lack of faith in national politics.

“Harris and Trump have made their positions very, very clear on what’s happening in Palestine. They have reaffirmed their support for apartheid and genocide repeatedly … They are two sides of the same coin,” the liaison said. “Our faith is in the people.”

Another media liaison for SJP, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the University, said that when a Democratic candidate is elected, liberals become “complacent.”

“I feel wishful thinking around, especially, [Vice President Kamala] Harris coming in, but [we] have to remind ourselves that the genocide took place under her administration — the Biden-Harris administration,” the second liaison said.

The liaison closed the vigil by speaking to the group via megaphone, encouraging them to continue their efforts regardless of domestic politics.

“As Palestinians remain steadfast in the face of apartheid, occupation and ethnic cleansing, we too must remain grounded in our humanity,” the liaison said.