Imagine not being able to visit a doctor when sick or make it to class in the morning – all because of security blockades. For some young people in the Middle East, this is a daily reality.

The Athens for Justice in Palestine group is hosting its Solidarity Day, a mini-cultural festival, at the Tate Plaza today in an effort to enlighten students on the plight of the Palestinians. Exhibits will feature food, poetry, music, traditional dance and photos.

“The event is intended to bring attention to the situation in Palestine and show students what life under occupation [by another country] is like,” said Ayla Zamangil, an AJP officer.

“We will be having a 6-feet by 12-feet wall to represent the wall that separates Israel and Palestine.”

The “wall” that divides Israel and Palestine also has separated people from their families, places of business, hospitals and schools.

Checkpoints – or guarded gates along the wall – are part of a grid system intended to control military activity.

“People have to pass through checkpoints to get to school or work,” said Aliya Naim, AJP secretary and junior international affairs and Arabic major.

“They are not guaranteed to be able to pass. Many pregnant women have died or had miscarriages trying to get through checkpoints. They aren’t built so that you may have a contiguous area including hospitals and schools.”

The AJP, a University student organization, addresses human rights violations against Palestinian people and also raises awareness concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to its mission statement.

“Once you know what is going on [in Palestine], you cannot ignore it,” Zamangil said.

She said she first learned about the conflict in high school and felt compelled to get involved.

“We have the right and responsibility to stand up against what’s going on [in Palestine],” said Yasmin Yonis, a sophomore AJP member.

She said AJP members believe it is their responsibility as U.S. citizens to understand the role the American government has played in the conflict.

“Many Palestinians do not just see the occupation [of their country] as an Israeli occupation,” she said.

“They see it very much as an American-Israeli occupation. [Israelis] could not [occupy Palestine] without the United States’ support.”

AJP has participated in several protests this semester.

Following Israeli aggressions in Gaza, AJP members protested at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta on Jan. 3, at the Israeli consulate on Jan. 5 and in Woodruff Park on Jan. 10.

For more information about AJP visit www.uga.edu/palestine.