Chants and speeches filled Monroe Park Wednesday evening as about 100 people gathered at the Checkers House building, calling for an arms embargo in the ongoing war in Gaza.

“We are not just fighting for Gaza, we are fighting for every single oppressed person, we are fighting for the right to resist and exist,” said Sereen Haddad, a Palestinian student at Virginia Commonwealth University. “We are fighting for every single person who has ever been told to be silent, and we are fighting because we refuse to accept a world where oppression wins.”

As VCU students conversed and played, and traffic flowed through the streets, signs and banners condemning the war and its impact were held high alongside Palestinian flags, creating a striking sight visible throughout the surrounding area.

The “emergency” protest was organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation Virginia days after a ceasefire in the conflict ended, with airstrikes on Gaza and military operations resuming soon after.

Protesters emphasized that deaths, injuries, and dangers persisted even during the ceasefire, and that the renewed conflict required unified action to prevent further suffering.

"The violence never stopped, but we've seen an escalation in the past two days,” said PSL member Violeta Vega, speaking ahead of the protest. “I'm trying to remain steadfast in my conviction and to work to build this mass movement.”

Multiple speakers from groups such as Sunrise Movement Richmond, Students for Justice in Palestine at VCU and others addressed multiple issues throughout the hourlong protest, from the ongoing violence to the arrest of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil.

Speakers repeatedly condemned the Trump and Biden administrations for their handling of the war and public outcry, as well as U.S. universities for their responses to student protests. They also warned about the potential impact the war and these reactions could have on other groups.

“Right now it's Palestinians,” Haddad said, “next it's going to be every single indigenous organizer, it's going to be climate protesters, it's going to be labor unions, anybody who speaks out against the status quo.”

The protest was one of many held in response to the end of the ceasefire, with events organized by various groups and communities both nationally and globally.

Despite the ongoing war and the fear some may feel as a result, speakers celebrated the turnout as a sign of the movement's strength. They encouraged attendees to continue their efforts beyond the protest, build a strong coalition, and work toward ending the war.

“We must not let our leadership learn that they can get away with this behavior,” said Jane Rinaldi of the Richmond Democratic Socialists of America. “We must not teach them that they can bully us into silence and inaction.”

“Fighting for justice is hard work, and it is worth fighting for.”