Protesters gather outside of Air Force Academy, briefly shut down road, during Thursday's graduation (2024)

Two groups of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the U.S. Air Force Academy at 7 a.m. Thursday morning ahead of its 2024 graduation commencement.

Approximately 20 people, including members of the Colorado Springs People's Coalition and UCCS Students for Justice in Palestine, specifically protested this year's keynote speaker and current Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. aid to Israel as the war with Palestine continues.

"We want President Biden and Vice President Harris to know that we won't be silent while they're here," Colorado Springs People's Coalition organizer Genevieve Richard said. "And we want to tell them that until they stop supplying military aid to Israel, they are compliant in genocide."

Planning for the demonstration began shortly after Harris was announced as this year's keynote speaker. Richard said. Protesters set up an area supplied with food, water and signs just outside of the base on public property so as not to disrupt any procedures.

Multiple chants directed at Harris, President Joe Biden and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rang out as cars pulled up to the academy's south gate entrance for commencement. Some cars honked while others shouted back in response to the protest.

Richard said they expected their crowd to grow throughout the day and plan to continue the demonstrations until the ceremony is over.

According to an Air Force Academy (AFA) spokesperson, the group originally set up their demonstration closer to the entrance before a member of the security force teamasked them to relocate to a pre-approved protest zone for their safety from inbound traffic. The group obliged and relocated to the approved zone.

The noise protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations held in Colorado Springs. In February, the Colorado Springs People's Coalition called on City Council to support a ceasefireto both Palestine and Israel while both UCCS and Colorado College held separate demonstrations demanding transparency for all divestments from the schools to Israel.

"We've been really disappointed in our local officials to date," Richard said. "They (city council members) told us they don't want to get involved with international affairs, but they came and out in support of Israel shortly after the October attack."

Around the same time further up north, a separate protest and car rally was conducted by the Colorado Springs Democratic Socialists of America and Colorado Palestine Coalition near the academy’s north gate.

According to Maryah Lauer, a spokesperson for Colorado SpringsDSA, about 30 volunteers drove their cars continuously through the two roundabouts on North Gate Blvd at approximately 7:45 a.m.

Cars were plastered and painted with home-made signs displaying support for Palestine and messages directed towards Harris while protesters chanted, honked their car horns and played loud music.

Lauer said their demonstration sought to disrupt the flow of traffic to the ceremonywhile publicly condemning the Vice President for militarily and politically aiding Israel and calling for a ceasefire.

“We wanted to bring attention to the conflict that’s ongoing, the military industrial complex and Aaron Bushnell to some people who may not have known otherwise,” she said.

Bushnell, 25, was an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force who died by self-immolation outside the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. in February in protest of the Israel-Hamas war.

According to Lauer, multiple members of various law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene around 8:00 a.m., broke up the demonstration and temporarily closed Northgate Blvd leading to the Academy’s entrance.

The AFA spokesperson told the Gazette that the north gate demonstration was not approved and that the lead driver was informed that their actions were illegal.The driver was then told they needed to depart or risk apprehension before continuously circling both roundabouts to disrupt traffic. Security forces and Colorado State Patrol then partnered to clear the protestors from the roundabouts and block them from re-entering, to allow normal traffic flow.

Lauer said it ultimately worked in their favor by temporarily closing Northgate.

“So, they actually helped our cause in the end.”

The road was re-opened shortly thereafter around 9:00 a.m.

This year marks Harris's first time speaking to Air Force Academy graduates. As vice president, Harris is part of the regular rotation of speakers for the academy, which is graduating 974 this year.