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An anti-war coalition that includes several left-wing student groups has conducted a couple of protests against the University of Louisville’s relatively new partnership with the U.S. Department of War, demanding it be terminated.
The University of Louisville’s Students for Justice in Palestine, Students for Immigrant Justice, and the Young Democratic Socialists of America groups joined with the Louisville chapters of Black Lives Matter Louisville and the Party of Socialism and Liberation to protest the deal.
“Once again the US threatens to plunge the world into another imperialist war, and our University as an academic institution REMAINS complicit in the genocide in Palestine, WHILST partnering with military contractors, & weapons manufacturers facilitating the war against Iran,” a joint post from the groups stated.
“Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” student protesters chanted at the March 2 protest. One student told WHAS News the partnership represents the “militarization” of education.
Students for Justice in Palestine again partnered up with the Party for Socialism and Liberation Louisville, Black Lives Matter Louisville, Louisville Democratic Socialists for America and other organizations to organize a follow-up protest on March 7.
“With the White House and Secretary of War signaling a prolonged conflict and threatening boots on the ground, it’s more important than ever to build a fighting anti-war movement here in the belly of the beast,” the groups stated.
In November 2025, the university announced it had been selected by the Defense Innovation Unit of the U.S. Department of War to operate a Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub at 300 E. Market St, which is where the protest occurred.
“This new designation will bring Kentucky talent and technology companies greater opportunities to support Department of War (DoW) needs,” the university news release stated at the time. “DIU works with companies to rapidly prototype and scale technologies for national defense.”
In a statement to The College Fix, a University of Louisville spokesperson said it “supports students and encourages them to share their views on important issues.”
The spokesperson did not clarify campus policies regarding collaboration between outside groups and university-affiliated organizations when coordinating protests.
Students for Immigrant Justice at University of Louisville, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Louisville, the National Lawyers Guild at UofL Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville Office of Research and Innovation, Black Lives Matter Louisville, and university representatives at the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub, did not respond to The College Fix’s request for comment.
Students for Justice in Palestine took part in the protests as part of its “Ramadan Week of Action.”
As part of that effort, the group also hosted an event on the importance of the Al-Aqsa Masjid “in centering Palestinian resistance,” according to its Instagram. The mosque is located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
The post drew critical responses from users supporting U.S. military action in Iran.
“Iranians living in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia have demonstrated through massive rallies that they support decisive action against the Islamic Republic,” one commenter wrote.
“We do not need sympathy from misinformed activists or from individuals in the West whose livelihoods depend on funding connected to this regime,” another wrote.
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