The Washington Free Beacon notes that it was a chance to protest Israel as much as it was to honor the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unit.
The Quds Force is the IRGC's foreign espionage and paramilitary arm that heavily influences its allied militia across the Middle East, from Lebanon to Iraq and Yemen to Syria.
Marie Fischer of Herut North America doubts that many understand what the day was all about.
"Most students have never heard of this probably until recently. They have no idea what it is. ‘But now since we're on this, let's hate Israel,’ so anything to hate Israel, they jump on the bandwagon."
The Free Beacon reports some observers claim the event was initiated by Iran to further its own political interests of using proxies to fight against Israel and Western powers.
Fischer says it takes place annually on the last day of Ramadan and participants heed the call of Iran and Hamas to take part.
"It was created in opposition to Israel's Jerusalem Day, which has been celebrated in Israel since May of 1968. It's like they created a negative celebration to counter a positive one."
