A candlelit vigil is typically synonymous for a memorial service, but on Saturday, Oct. 11, it took on a broader meaning — the Young Democratic Socialists of America’s (YDSA) Vigil for Palestine was a memorial for those who died, but also a showing of support for the Gaza that still exists.
“The ‘Vigil for Palestine’ is quite poor wording because Palestine is not dead or lost. It’s still here, and it’s something that can be saved,” YDSA President and senior professional and technical writing major Mercedes Skelton said. “It’s important to acknowledge that and celebrate the people who are still here.”
The YDSA at SVSU held the event at 7 p.m. by the Curtiss Hall bell tower to remember and support Palestinians affected by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. According to data from Statista, as of August 2025, 61,158 Palestinians were killed and 151,442 injured. There has also been 1,200 Israeli deaths and 5,431 injuries.
“I think the issue in Gaza, and Palestine in general, is in many ways a repeat of what happened to American Indians in the United States. It is, very plainly, an act of settler colonialism,” Skelton said.
During the hour-long vigil, 33 people gathered to observe a moment of silence, and they had the opportunity to donate to humanitarian relief funds. In addition to Skelton’s remarks, YDSA co-chair and senior psychology major Zachary McEvoy read from “The Gaza Monologues,” and graduate student Bryan Jackson emphasized the importance of uplifting Palestinian voices.
“As a society, we’ve said we wouldn’t let [genocide] happen again. I see a vigil as the least people can do. For me, genocide is a hard line — I will never be okay with it or make excuses for it,” Skelton said. “If we as a community can’t say no to it, what hope is there for stopping atrocities in the future?”
To maintain a safe environment, the YDSA accepted two volunteers to be marshals for the event, and they also worked with University Police to execute an event they felt college students might be receptive to, considering the positive feedback they received from their other initiatives.
“It is a fallacy to believe that we live in a world unaffected by the suffering of others. Now more than ever, with global communication at the level it is, it’s a lie to say we’re not responsible for what happens across the world. There’s no excuse for closing our eyes,” faculty advisor Professor Taylor Mata said.
Mata stepped up as the faculty advisor after being asked by former student Sean Stefan in 2024 when the group was founded. It was a combined effort between Stefan and Skelton to get the Youth chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America established at SVSU.
“After the election, I had several students so devastated they struggled to get out of bed, much less come to class. I had seldom felt the weight of having to keep my chin up so others could raise theirs, even when I felt much the same,” Mata said. “When Sean asked me to advise in the following winter semester, the only answer seemed to be yes. If students want to take action and seek change, isn’t it my role as a believer in liberal education and the power of students to say yes?”
Mata felt inspired to support young people because they are the ones who will live with the effects of current conflicts, she said.
“The YDSA functions as a refreshment of choice. Students are raised to believe there’s a status quo — that they must work within it and align with one side or the other,” Mata said. “YDSA members remind their peers that there is a choice, that there can be multiple perspectives and meaningful change that serves everyone. So many students feel hopeless about what they see online or on the news. Seeing real action in person, and being part of it, is hope itself.”
The YDSA at SVSU does not have a consistent meeting schedule, but they plan to host their next meeting in the coming weeks. To learn more about their organization, join their email list by emailing ydsa@svsu.edu.
Carlie Smith