New York City students recently held marches and encampments to show support for Israelis and Palestinians. Things got tense when the two groups clashed.
The Key Points:
- Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian student groups held events in NYC
- A pro-Israel march drew supporters but also anti-Semitic protestors
- A pro-Palestinian encampment at City College attracted controversy
- Some Jewish students felt threatened and want action from Congress
Have you ever seen groups disagree so strongly about an issue? Read on to learn more about this campus conflict.
Pro-Israel March Draws Mixed Reactions
On [DATE], a pro-Israel student group held a march through New York City. Supporters waved Israeli flags and thanked Christian allies who joined in.
But not everyone supported the march. Some protestors held up alarming signs saying, “From New York to Palestine, there will be liberation” – which one student said meant “the murder of Jews.” Yikes!
Police arrested one protestor for trying to assault someone at the march. Hunter College sophomore [NAME] attended and saw the good and evil:
“We had a nice outpouring of support from Christian supporters…But we also had agitators with frightening messages on their signs.”
City College Encampment Makes Jewish Student Feel Unsafe
After the march, [NAME] visited a pro-Palestinian encampment at City College. He has a cousin who is an open Orthodox Jew at that school.
[NAME] approached with his phone out, and the protesters quickly surrounded him in a threatening way. They recognized he was Jewish, blared loud music at him, and dared him to pick up his Jewish cap after knocking it off.
Two people had to escort the shaken [NAME] away, saying, “It is not safe for you here.” That’s very concerning for his Orthodox cousin, who attends City College.
Leaders Disagree on How to Solve Tensions
Some students want Congress to get involved due to the threats faced by Jewish students on campus. [NAME] called on Congress to:
- Direct the Attorney General to enforce laws against threatening or extremist speech
- Adopt a strict definition of anti-Semitism that colleges must follow
- Deny federal funding to any school that can’t ensure safety for Jewish and all students
But the President condemned anti-Semitism while also saying “he understands what is going on with Palestinians.” Trying to stay neutral didn’t satisfy either side.
Jewish students reported pro-Palestinian classmates calling all Jews “murderers” and using loudspeakers to make threats. They feel their schools aren’t doing enough.
In the end, Moses, the student board president of [NAME], acknowledged that “it’s definitely a mixed bag” when dealing with this very divisive conflict.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is clearly a very heated, emotional topic – even for students in New York City. Both sides feel deeply passionate about their beliefs.
Can Jewish and Palestinian students find common ground and respect each other’s perspectives?ย Or will tensions keep rising across campuses?ย Leaving this unresolved could lead to more confrontations and hurt feelings.
What’s the best way to promote mutual understanding amidst such vastly different?
