Brief

UCLA student group plans Oct. 7 march marking Hamas attack anniversary

The planned protest at Bruin Plaza has drawn criticism for its language and timing.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:26:06 GMT

Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of California, Los Angeles announced a mass protest for noon on Oct. 7 at Bruin Plaza, marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, according to the group’s own statement.

What happened

The student organization said the demonstration aims to "recognize and uplift" Palestinian resistance and to turn grief over the conflict into political action. The group described the past three years as "escalated genocide in Palestine" and warned that "the genocide in Palestine has not slowed down, and neither should we." The march is scheduled for the exact date of the 2023 Hamas assault that killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.

What the reports add

The New York Post noted that the language used by the group was immediately condemned online, with one Instagram commenter calling the plan "depraved." The outlet also referenced prior UCLA encampments, describing how law‑enforcement officials declared a previous protest camp unlawful and detained many participants. Images from April and May 2024 show both pro‑Palestine and pro‑Israel demonstrators on campus, as well as California Highway Patrol officers clearing a cleared encampment.

What was said

The student group’s announcement read, "In the face of Zionist occupation and genocide, the Palestinian people have remained disciplined in the fight toward the inevitable reality of liberation." The Post quoted an Instagram user who wrote, "This is depraved," in response to the announcement. Another commenter, identified only by the name Jon Ronsen, said, "Looking forward to counterprotesting these bored, uninformed, cosplaying jihadists," while a separate user dismissed the protest’s impact, stating, "You’re gonna make a lot of noise and get a lot of attention, but victorious? I don’t think Israel will fall because of a bunch of barbarians and their Looney Tunes supporters."

How it came about

The planned march follows a series of campus‑wide encampments that began earlier in 2024, where activists called for universities to divest from companies tied to Israel. UCLA’s administration previously declared an encampment unlawful and removed protesters, a move that heightened tensions on campus. The current protest is the latest effort by the student group to draw attention to the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks.

Key facts

Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA plan a noon march on Oct. 7 at Bruin Plaza to mark the third anniversary of the Hamas attack. (nypost.com)
The group described the past three years as "escalated genocide in Palestine" and said the protest aims to "recognize and uplift" Palestinian resistance. (nypost.com)
Online critics called the planned demonstration "depraved" and posted hostile comments on Instagram. (nypost.com)