Melissa, a Colombian artist and activist, stands resolutely on a Washington, DC street near George Washington University on May 1, 2024, wearing a mask that reads "Stop Genocide, Free Palestine." Police cars line the street behind her as tensions rise during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.This protest is part of a global movement organized by students and workers calling for universities to divest from companies linked to the Gaza conflict and to protect pro-Palestinian speech. Protesters, including Melissa, are marching from Franklin Park to the George Washington University.