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Protestors rally in support of Palestine in Orem on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

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Protestors rally in support of Palestine in Orem on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

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Protestors rally in support of Palestine in Orem on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

4 / 6

Protestors rally in support of Palestine in Orem on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

5 / 6

Protestors rally in support of Palestine in Orem on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

6 / 6

Protestors rally in support of Palestine in Orem on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

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A small group of protestors gathered in Orem on Friday in support of Palestine, calling for a boycott of McDonald’s and Burger King, asking for Utah and U.S. leaders to stop their support for Israel in its nearly two-month-long war with Hamas and calling for a cease-fire.

The protestors, a couple dozen in all, marched and chanted in the cold on the corner of State Street and Center Street in Orem on Black Friday, holding protest signs and a Palestinian flag.

Ruth, who helped organize the demonstration and declined to give their full name, said those protesting feel Utah leaders have not listened to groups that are in support of Palestine and instead have continued with unwavering support for Israel.

“So we have proposed a boycott (of McDonald’s and Burger King), hoping that these business leaders will then reach out to the legislators because if they’re not listening to us, maybe they’ll listen to people who have more money,” Ruth said.

The call to boycott the two global fast food companies comes from franchises within Israel providing free meals to Israeli soldiers since the conflict began Oct. 7, when Hamas militants waged a surprise attack on Israeli soil, killing more than 1,200 people. Last month, CNN reported on calls for a boycott against McDonald’s, noting that franchises are often provided some independence in how they operate from the global chain.

Ruth, who uses the pronoun they, said they have emailed local franchise owners about the issue but have not received a response. The group also has contacted Utah lawmakers, who Ruth said have responded with “unequivocal” support for Israel.

The protestors want Utah lawmakers to support a permanent cease-fire in the region, not just a temporary pause, Ruth said, adding that since the Utah Capitol was lit up in Israel colors at the beginning of October, the same should be done for Palestine.

A four-day cease-fire of the conflict began Friday, The Associated Press reported, as part of a deal for the release of Hamas hostages and for Israel to allow increased shipments of supplies into Gaza.

Protestors received mixed reactions on the bustling State Street corner, with some drivers honking horns and shouting in support while other drivers exclaimed their support for Israel. The group also handed out informational flyers to pedestrians as they walked by, a couple who briefly stopped to talk with supporters.

Tania, who attended the protest to show her support for Palestine and also did not provide her last name, said she wants local leaders to acknowledge that not all of their constituents stand “unquestionably with Israel” and said she doesn’t want to see her tax dollars funding the Israeli military.

“We don’t want our money, we don’t want our businesses and the businesses coming out of America, such as McDonald’s and Burger King, to be funding such atrocities,” she said.

To date, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, AP reported, citing figures supplied by the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.

Tania added that she does not condone the actions of Hamas, the terrorist group that launched the surprise attack on Israel in October, but said she wants people to stop conflating the Palestinian people with Hamas.

“Please just hear the voices of the Palestinian people, the children, the civilians, the mothers, the fathers, you know — the people just trying to live day to day,” she said.

This is the second rally in support of Palestine that has occurred in Utah County since the war began, with a group gathering at the end of October in Provo.

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