Protesters at Johns Hopkins University hold a vigil for Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza

BALTIMORE – As tensions rise during pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the U.S., the camp at Johns Hopkins University remains peaceful.

“The longevity of our camp is not unexpected,” said Savannah, a Johns Hopkins student.

On the eighth day of demonstrations, the organization that ran the camp, Hopkins Justice Collective, held a vigil with a group called American Muslims for Palestine.

“This is historic what we are seeing,” said Imam Sami Zaharna of the Muslim Family Center.

Dozens attended the vigil honoring Palestinians killed in Gaza since the war began.

Zaharna, who is from Gaza but is now an imam at a mosque in Colombia, spoke at the vigil.

“As a Palestinian and as a resident of the Gaza Strip, I think it is important that we show solidarity with everyone else,” Zaharna said.

Over the weekend, Johns Hopkins’ provost sent a message to students saying protesters would refuse to meet with campus leaders until Tuesday afternoon.

The students told WJZ that they were not sure when this meeting would take place.

“We feel that the university is still not communicating to the best of its ability, and we would like to see more clarity so that we can both meet our needs,” Savannah said.

The provost also wrote in his message that he was concerned about the security risks posed by the camp.

Gov. Wes Moore, a Hopkins graduate, expressed similar concerns.

“Student safety is paramount and everyone is in favor of the idea of ​​free speech, but we also need to ensure that individual student safety is paramount,” Moore said.

Protesters tell WJZ they are well prepared for the long haul, equipped with food, water, shelter and security forces to ensure things don’t escalate.

“We know this is an uphill battle and we know we have to last a long time to make sure the pressure stays on,” Savannah said.