An opportunity to understand the continuing conflict in the Middle East is rolling across the United States and making a stop at Marquette.

The Wheels of Justice Tour will be on campus Wednesday to educate students about the day-to-day effects of the Israeli occupation in Iraq and Palestine in a free event hosted by Jesuit University Students Together in Concerned Empowerment.

A multi-colored school bus covered in white doves will stop at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee before it arrives at Marquette. The speakers on board are: Michael Birmingham of Dublin, Ireland, a member of Voices in the Wilderness, Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, co-founder of Wheels of Justice and founder of the Holy Land Conservation Foundation and a professor of genetics at Yale University School of Medicine.

The day's events include a Soup with Substance titled, "Occupation of Palestine and Iraq" from noon to 1 p.m. in room 227 of the Alumni Memorial Union. There will be a presentation at 7 p.m. in Beaumier Suite B of the John P. Raynor, S.J. Library.

Both activities aim at educating students about the stories not seen on television, according to Qumsiyeh.

"It's a great opportunity for people of all political spectrums to get a bigger perspective of what is going on," said Greg St. Arnold, co-chair of JUSTICE and a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.

University Ministry is hosting and funding the Soup with Substance, which is meant to be a dialogue where students can interact with the speakers and learn about social justice topics.

"We're trying to expose students to the issues in Palestine and Iraq," said Gerry Fischer, coordinator of Soup with Substance and assistant director of University Ministry.

The evening presentation will include footage of residents of Middle Eastern countries.

"We show what the average person on the ground feels, giving direct, first-hand experience," said Qumsiyeh, who grew up in Palestine. Both speakers have traveled to the Middle East.

"The main issue is for people to understand what is happening and compare that with what they see on the news," he said. "My mother still lives under occupation and my sister can't get to work because of barriers."

Since the Wheels of Justice Tour began in 2003, the bus has traveled 25,000 miles and toured 26 states.

"The response has been excellent," Qumsiyeh said. "It's better than we expected and we've even had people give money toward the bus (tour)."

The tour is sponsored by Voices in the Wilderness, www.nonviolence.org/vitw, and the Palestine Right to Return to Coalition, www.al-awda.org.