By Julia Lerner

Israel’s independence day ends on May 2, so it is only fitting that Israelfest, an event on this university’s campus designed to celebrate Jewish culture, fell on the same day this year.

This year, a number of student groups came together in order to protest the event.

“[The Students for Justice in Palestine] and the Muslim Political Alliance called for a mass boycott of Israelfest” said Sarah Esher, a junior math and philosophy double major and the president of Muslim Political Alliance. The groups are hoping to show that “our university does not support the celebration of an oppressive country.”

“We don’t want to be complicit in celebrating a country that has been militarily occupying another for so many years” said Miranda Mlilo, a sophomore environmental science and policy major.

Like last year, Students for Justice in Palestine took a leading role in organizing the protest. Unlike last year, though, the protest took on a very different approach.

“This year, we’re doing a non-confrontational form of protest” Esher said. Last year, the groups protesting entered Israelfest and staged a die-in, and were later removed by police.

See More: STUDENTS RALLY IN OPPOSITION TO ISRAEL FEST, IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE

The groups hosted a teach-in at the top of McKeldin Mall during Israelfest and spoke about the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Students who organized the boycott were hoping to create a dialogue on campus so that students would leave the boycott more aware of cultures and beliefs different from their own.

“Last year, the point was to disrupt Israelfest and to show that we had a problem with it” Mlilo said. “We wanted to bring attention to the cause of the Palestinians. The point this year was to give people the opportunity to ask us why we’re doing it, to talk to us about it and to hear our side.”

During the boycott, some students booed and jeered at the group as they taught. However, police were quick to intervene and requested that all audience members listen with respect.

“I feel our point is very clear” Mlilo said. “Last year, everyone saw that we were protesting, and this year, people remember it from last year and want to come find out why we did it.”

Laila Abujuma, a sophomore biology major, attended the Israelfest Boycott with a Palestinian flag this year, and attended the protest last year. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

A number of students booed the students hosting the teach-in regarding Palestine. Those booing were chastized by police, and were asked to be more respectful of other beliefs. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

In honor of the boycott, students hung Palestinian flags all over McKeldin, including one on Testudo. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

A student examines the wall constructed by the groups boycotting Israelfest. The wall was intended to represent the between Israel and Palestine, and featured similar graffiti messages, definitions and calls for peace. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Following the teach-in, students had discussions with one another regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, with a number of the conversations getting incredibly heated. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Laila Abujuma, a sophomore biology major, attended the teach-in in a Palestinian flag. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Shane James, a senior at UMD, spoke about the history of Palestine, and encouraged students to continue learning about the conflict. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Nathan Feldman, a senior computer science and mathematics major at UMD, spoke about his own judaism and says the current treatment of Palestinians is not in accordance with the values of his faith. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Students gathered at 3 pm at the top of McKeldin Mall to listen to a teach-in hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Political Alliance. Many were already prepared to boycott Israelfest, but others were there to learn more about the issue. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

The crowd looks on as students presented in front of their wall on McKeldin Mall during the Boycott Israelfest Teach-In. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Featured Photo Credit: Sarah Eshera, a junior math and philosophy double major, presents to a crowd of about 200 during the teach-in at the boycott. This year, the groups boycotting took a less-agressive approach, and decided that teaching individuals about their causes would be another great way to get students involved in conversation about the Israel-Palestine conflict. (Julia Lerner/Photography Editor)

Julia Lerner is a sophomore journalism major and may be reached at julia.lerner.96@gmail.com.