Iowa City Protesters Rally Against UI Weapons Ties

Local activists demand university end military contracting relationships

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:06am

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A dynamic, fractured painting of protesters marching with Palestinian flags and anti-war signs, conveying the passionate energy and urgency of the demonstration against the University of Iowa's military-industrial connections.Protesters in Iowa City demand the University of Iowa end its military contracting relationships, reflecting growing local concerns about the school's ties to the weapons industry.Iowa City Today

Around 60 members of the Iowa City community gathered on the University of Iowa campus on April 10 to protest the university's relationships with weapons manufacturing companies like American Ordinance and Collins Aerospace. The protesters, led by the organization Iowa City Action for Palestine, carried anti-war signs and Palestinian flags as they marched and chanted slogans calling for the UI to end its military contracting ties.

Why it matters

The protest is part of an ongoing campaign by local activists to pressure the University of Iowa to sever its connections to the weapons industry, which they see as complicit in international conflicts and human rights abuses. The rally reflects growing concerns within the Iowa City community about the university's role in the military-industrial complex.

The details

The protesters, including UI student and Revolutionary Communists of America organizer Jonah Cornelisse, marched through campus chanting slogans like 'The people, united, will never be defeated' and calling for the UI to cut ties with American Ordinance and Collins Aerospace, which do military contracting work. A petition by Iowa City Action for Palestine demanding the UI end its relationship with American Ordinance has garnered over 650 signatures.

  • The protest took place on April 10, 2026.
  • The petition by Iowa City Action for Palestine has been circulating for an unspecified period of time.

The players

Iowa City Action for Palestine

A local organization that led the protest and is spearheading the campaign to pressure the University of Iowa to end its ties to weapons manufacturers.

Jonah Cornelisse

A first-year UI student and organizer with the Revolutionary Communists of America who participated in the protest.

Rasmus Schlutter

A UI graduate student and member of Iowa City Action for Palestine who attended the rally.

Anna Blaedel

A 44-year-old Iowa City resident, member of Iowa City Action for Palestine, and chaplain at the Sacred Collective who spoke at the protest.

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What they’re saying

“We're definitely looking for people to make the connection that imperialism like this is connected to capitalism. You can't separate the two. You can't separate the two. I think there is room to do local things, like for the university to disaffiliate from arms manufacturers. I think that's a very limited win, but nonetheless, good to see.”

— Jonah Cornelisse, UI student and Revolutionary Communists of America organizer

“An organization is an instrument of belief. It's our collective way of saying 'We have these shared beliefs, and we're translating them to action through our shared hours. It's translating that moral belief in that cultural principle into tangible action. For me, the organization is the way we do that.”

— Rasmus Schlutter, UI graduate student and Iowa City Action for Palestine member

“Any time the university is in contract with and encourages participation in weapons manufacturing, and in this case, complicit in genocide, we have a duty and responsibility to engage, to resist, and to transform the system.”

— Anna Blaedel, Iowa City resident, Iowa City Action for Palestine member, and Sacred Collective chaplain

What’s next

The petition by Iowa City Action for Palestine calling for the UI to cut ties with American Ordinance currently has 658 signatures, and the group plans to continue pressuring the university to respond to their demands.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the growing concerns within the Iowa City community about the University of Iowa's relationships with weapons manufacturers, which many see as contributing to international conflicts and human rights abuses. The activists are determined to keep up the pressure on the university to sever these ties.