The Students Supporting Israel at LSU chapter hosted a visiting Israeli soldier Wednesday as part of the nationwide “Triggered: Combat on College” tour. In response, members of the university’s Students for a Democratic Society chapter protested outside the event.
At 7:20 p.m. about 40 SDS protesters entered the Student Union, banging pots and pans and shouting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and other phrases.
When the SSI meeting started at 7:30 p.m., the protesters were escorted out of the building because they were “creating a disturbance of the peace,” LSUPD said.
Gábriela Juarez said the protesters “greatly outnumbered the Zionist students” and claimed that the police escorted them outside the Union with “extreme force.”
SDS members continued to chant in support of Palestine and condemning Israel outside the doors to the Union. Shortly after, they circled the building and stopped at each entrance, trying to get back in.
“We’re out here protesting the Israeli Defense Force soldiers that were there on Oct. 7 coming to speak at LSU,” said Margo Wilson, the president of LSU’s SDS chapter. “They’re terrorists and we don’t want them here.”
Police followed the group from inside and barricaded the doors each time they tried to enter.
The event, held in the Feliciana Room in the Union, was part of SSI’s nationwide speaking series featuring IDF reservists who discuss their military service and Israel’s national security.
The group says the tour aims to “promote a better understanding of Israel” and give students a firsthand perspective on the conflict.
Gabriella Maganheim, a communication studies senior and the president of SSI, said the chapter expected the protest and had coordinated with campus police and administrators beforehand.
“The police are doing what they need to do,” Maganheim said. “Administration’s doing what they need to do. They’re obviously allowed to do what they want, freedom of speech. We don’t mind. Our soldiers don’t mind if they’re out here yelling. We’re still going to have the event.”
The “Triggered: Combat on College” tour has visited universities across the United States, Canada and Europe since its founding by SSI.
“We have a reservist who comes and speaks to different college campuses all around the U.S. and Canada,” Maganheim said. “It’s just to understand what they are doing and how they’re protecting the State of Israel.”
After the meeting was over, LSUPD escorted the soldier through the Union to his ride that was waiting in the loading dock on Highland Road.
“When I was sent a flyer that in Free Speech Alley, they’re trying to silence people from talking, that’s just not okay,” the Israeli soldier told the Reveille as he hurried into his car.
SSI’s website states the group “believes in the idea of Zionism” and aims to “support students in grassroots pro-Israel advocacy.”
