Photos: Free Mahmoud, Pro-Palestinian Hostages, and VA Protests

by Richard Reilly · Published March 17, 2025 · Updated March 16, 2025

Friday kicked off a weekend of local protest activity, when veterans and their supporters took to the streets to protest proposed budget cuts at the Veterans Administration (VA). These cuts are part of the Trump administration’s DOGE effort. After gathering at John Cochran VA Medical Center in N. Grand, protesters made their way to Grand Center, taking their message to the city’s main arts and culture district. This was one of many similar protests that took place across the nation.

Outside of Forest Park’s historic Jewel Box, activists from groups such as Veterans for Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and others gathered to demand the release of hostages on both sides of the ongoing conflict between the state of Israel and Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank. Speakers began with a Palestinian Mizzou student who has dual citizenship. A speaker with Jewish Voice for Peace focused his speech on a local rabbi, whose anti-Palestinian comments are considered by many to be dangerous and dehumanizing. Headlining the event was former congresswoman Cori Bush, who emphasized helping those in need and reminded participants of the solidarity Palestinians shared with protesters in Ferguson.

Also on Saturday, Party for Socialism and Liberation members gathered outside ICE offices in Woodson Terrace, where they continued local demonstrations calling for Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil’s release. Mr. Khalil was detained without charges and is facing deportation, despite the fact that he is a legal resident of the United States, is married to a citizen, and has not been charged with any crime. This follows a similar downtown protest that occurred earlier in the week.