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Pro-Palestinian Protests Are Different
Pro-Palestinian Protests Are Different
They are unlike Vietnam, or South Africa Apartheid because of Counter-Protesters
They are unlike Vietnam, or South Africa Apartheid because of Counter-Protesters
Past protests about political events overseas were typically directed at the policies of the US government or by large institutions (their business dealings, investments, etc). Pro-Palestinian protests unfortunately pitch our international community against each other, creating a distinct group of individuals as its victims, tearing apart the very fabric of our society, both locally and nationally.
Our community of students is drawn from all over the world. The most affected by current pro-Palestinian protests are Jewish students who often become a target in classrooms and dorms based on their names and looks. From counter-protests to open letters by the Triton Jewish Leaders, we have been inundated by requests by the students and faculty regarding incidents of harassment faced by Jews on campus.
Why are these protests seen as anti-semitic?
Why are these protests seen as anti-semitic?
The pro-Palestinian protesters have pointed to the presence of a few Jewish students and faculty amongst them as evidence that these are not anti-semitic. There is no question that Israel's response to the Hamas attack has divided even the Jewish community. However, a vast majority of Jews experience and feel distinct signatures of past anti-semitism. Whether we agree with them or not is not the question, but we have an obligation to listen to such voices. Our campaigns against harassment taught us that such experiences are a matter of how the victim felt rather than the intent of the perpetrator, who may well be unaware. A large number of voices are telling us in no uncertain terms that anti-semitism by the pro-Palestinian protesters and their supporters is real and experienced by Jewish students, faculty, and staff. These include thoughtful voices who have tried to explain to others like Moshe Vardi here and here, or Judea Pearl.
Our students have written to us, approached various forums -- despite a strong media bias against them -- as well as faculty have written about anti-semitism rampant at UC San Diego. Below are a few samples. These are the real victims of a protest activism on campus.
Jewish Students Letter
Jewish Students Letter
A Cry for help about Campus Antisemitism
A Cry for help about Campus Antisemitism
Counter-protests by students
Counter-protests by students
This article in San Diego Union-Tribune written a day before the encampment was removed (May 5, 2024) captures the voices of protests and counter-protests along with a public statement from Chancellor Khosla that the encampment is "illegal" and has "tripled in size in violation of the group's commitment not to expand the footprint."
The article goes on to describe the "threat and potential for violent clashes" that were thankfully averted due to timely action.
Beyond Antisemitism to anti-Israeli: View from Rice U.
Beyond Antisemitism to anti-Israeli: View from Rice U.
Moshe Vardi explains here why the protests are antisemitic but goes beyond to explain that "there are Israelis on US campuses, and they deserve to be free from harassment and discrimination on the basis of their national origin. Just as no one would accept the excuse "I am not not Islamophobic, I am just anti-Arab."...
Moshe explains why Intifada chants and other symbols used by the protesters are so abhorrent.
Peaceful Protests
Peaceful Protests
and the necessary discomfort they are supposed to cause
and the necessary discomfort they are supposed to cause
UC San Diego's faculty has scholars with expertise in social movements, history, politics, and psychology. They spend time studying the nature of sociopolitical protests and their impact. We are grateful to them. Yet, to most of us outside of these areas, it is hard to understand and make sense of their support for activities that directly offend (and even endanger) another community on campus.
Consider free speech: they dismiss the Jewish students' fears because "free speech is supposed to invite dispute, to stir" even in the face of a directly targeted, well-identified group of victims, be it Jews or Israeli origin citizens. More importantly, they miss the entire reason -- as outlined by the Encampment Fact Sheet -- was the potential risk of explicitly prohibited activity, overnight camping on grounds surrounded by eucalyptus trees in the presence of equally enraged counter-protesters, and not because the protest was disruptive or just offensive.
Of course, others notice the hypocrisy implied by the very same people who have taught all of us about micro-aggression and the notion of victimhood identified racially or with national origins.
Campus social justice warriors are running an imaginary script of protests against apartheid in supporting an illegal encampment on campus using a tortured logic of political protests and civil disobedience. It contradicts verifiable facts, challenges common sense, and exposes their hypocrisy about minority rights.
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