Balloon Launch for Palestine, an event sponsored by Student Activities and Multicultural Student Affairs, was held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in front of Dallas Hall. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about the Israeli siege that has been taking place in Gaza for the past few years.

In 22 days, Israel killed more than 1,400 Palestinian civilians, including 437 children and 108 women. Eighty percent of the population in Gaza is dependent on aid to survive due to the Israeli siege and occupation of Palestine.

White balloons, a symbol of peace, were filled with helium, and an informational card was attached to the outside of the balloon. The balloons served as an instrument of change, an attempt to send a message and help the oppressed voices in Gaza be heard.

This event was open to the entire SMU campus, as well as the larger Dallas community. Families, students and children held balloons as two speakers exposed the truth about what has been going on in Gaza.

The speeches, accompanied by videos and a slideshow of photographs, moved the audience to tears.

“You have to show consciousness of what is going on and we are going to show our support,” Fatimah Elnashar, a junior at UTD, said. “Ignorance is the worst thing in the world.”

As the slideshow ended, the audience was asked to release their balloons at the same time in a unified effort against the injustice in Gaza. The white balloons created a stark contrast against the night sky and all eyes turned upwards to watch them float away.

The event helped participants grasp the severity of the conditions during the siege and promotes the war against crimes against Palestinian children in Gaza.

“I think it is very important for people to know what is going on,” Samira Ali, a freshman at El Centro College, said. “I am a human being, and students like me are dying. I believe innocent people should not be killed.”

The balloon launch addressed the fact that unequal media coverage promotes our government’s support of Israel.