By Marcus Aarsvold

Published: Apr. 30, 2024 at 6:41 PM CDT|Updated: 17 hours ago

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – As a ‘Free Palestine’ protest continues on UW Madison’s campus, a small group of elderly women joined in to show their support.

82-year-old Bonnie Block is a Wisconsin native who lives in Madison and is a part of a group called the Raging Grannies, who encourages people to speak out.

“We wanted to come and tell these students thank you for being here because I think it’s really important,” Block said. “All my life I’ve been heartened by groups of people who are saying no to what they see is wrong. I think that that’s critical.”

Block said the war in Gaza should end.

“We need to end the genocide,” she said. “I’ve seen the occupation up close and it’s awful.”

She said it’s important for students in Wisconsin to speak out against the war and approved the encampment setup.

“I’m so proud of these students all over the country,” she said. “I just say, ‘Go for it!’’’

University of Wisconsin Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and other faculty put out a statement on Monday night and encouraged protesters to take down their tents.

Neither Mnookin nor UW Police would speak on-camera on Tuesday.