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American U. An event at American University, a “Debunking Zionist Lies Workshop” hosted by the school’s SJP chapter, has been cancelled
by the school. The school said in its announcement that “we always prioritize the well-being of our community and regularly conduct safety assessment for campus events.” SJP’s promotional posting on social media included a graphic showing a masked individual with a slingshot and text that included “SMASH ZIONISM!” The university cited the posting’s problematic imagery and language, and added that the school is committed to supporting the campus Jewish community and speaking out against the danger of antisemitism. ADL Washington, D.C.
applauded the decision, stating, “Such hostile rhetoric and behavior toward Jewish students is unacceptable.”
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(Source: AU_SJP | Instagram) |
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Israel. Israeli universities are facing a 66% rise
in academic boycotts, with nearly 500 incidents recorded in the past six months. According to a new report by the Association of University Heads’ Task Force to Combat Academic Boycotts, institutions in the U.S., Belgium, Spain and England saw the most boycotts recorded, disrupting collaborations and excluding Israeli scholars from conferences and research opportunities. Task force head Emmanuel Nahshon stressed that the boycotts will persist, even suggesting that they will “likely continue for years to come.” He went on to urge Israeli academia to strengthen their international networks and legal strategies.
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UMass Amherst. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, over 100 anti-Israel protesters
rallied outside a university building to bring attention to their BDS goals. Organized by UMass SJP, Young Democratic Socialists of America, Young Socialists and the Connecticut Palestine Solidarity Coalition, the rally featured chants including “Free, free, free Palestine” and “Free the people, fight the power, f**k the police, FTP.” Counter-protesters, braving the cold, responded with anti-Hamas slogans and heckled the speakers.
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(UMass anti-Israel protest. Source: Andrew Venditti / Daily Collegian) |
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Boston College. Ahead of an anti-Israel demonstration
held earlier this month at Boston College, the university and protesters went through a lengthy approval process that removed at least one threatening chant from the planned agenda and ensured that the speaker identities were known ahead of time. Regarding the chant, one of the organizers explained: “They took out one of our chants: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. They told us, according to the Anti-Defamation League, it’s classified as hate speech.” The school also asked the organizers if they would like to see any resources about antisemitic conduct or bias-motivated speech.
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Amsterdam. A Dutch court sentenced two anti-Israel protesters
for violence against police during demonstrations at the University of Amsterdam last May. Simone Z. received two months in prison for throwing sticks and liquid at officers, while Joaquin L. was sentenced to 60 hours of community service for throwing a bottle and food. A third suspect, Peike S., was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The court acknowledged the right to protest but stressed that violence crosses the line. “There are limits,” the judge ruled. The sentencing follows months of heightened tensions on European campuses, as authorities work to balance free speech with maintaining public order. | |
What the Demonstrators Demonstrated. When Israeli visiting professor Avi Shilon started his first class as a visiting professor at Columbia, he had not gotten very far before masked protesters burst into the classroom,
chanting anti-Israel messages and shouting about genocide. Now, two of those protesters have been expelled. Shilon explained the differing impact of the protest on his class and on him as an Israeli. He noted that at least one concerned student has asked to switch to Zoom attendance and observed that for Jewish students, “it’s a chilling reminder that they are minorities in this country, whereas when an Israeli is attacked, he still feels that he is part of the majority in his own country.”
DEEPER: Read more about the disciplinary steps taken by Columbia-affiliated Barnard College, which expelled two of those masked protesters who disrupted Shilon’s class.
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My Mission. Syracuse University sophomore Julia Weinreich recently returned from a deeply emotional trip to Israel
with Hasbara Fellowships, where she confronted the heartbreaking realities of life post-10/7. Visiting Kibbutz Nir Oz and the Nova Music Festival site, she described not only the palpable sorrow that lingers within the country, but also the unwavering resilience of the Jewish people. Inspired by this resilient spirit, Weinreich stressed the urgency of advocacy and pride in Israeli, urging future generations to use their voice and stand against terrorism. “I do this for my future children and your future children,” she said. It is my mission to convey the ideas of pride for Israel to our future generations. Please stand up for us when you are given the opportunity. The
future of Israel and the Jewish people is up to you.” | |
Breaking The Ice. Israel’s women’s national ice hockey team made history
with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory against Estonia, securing gold at the IIHF World Championships in Sarajevo. With the game tied after regulation, Israel’s resilience shone in overtime as Lior Leshem netted the game-winning goal, sending the team into celebration. Goaltender Yael Fatiev’s crucial saves kept Israel in the fight, while head coach Melissa Wronzberg praised the team’s dedication. The thrilling win marks a major milestone for Israeli hockey, a sport still gaining traction in the country. Wronzberg says a gold at this level is “proof our program is headed in the right direction.”
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(Israel’s Women’s national team | SOURCE: Ice Hockey Federation of Israel.) |
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Strength and Courage. Argentina’s President Javier Milei has been awarded the 2024 Genesis Prize,
recognizing his unwavering support for Israel and efforts to reverse Argentina’s past anti-Israel policies. Since taking office, Milei has also designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, pledged to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and reopened investigations into terrorist attacks on Jewish sites in Buenos Aires. Co-founder of the prize, Stan Polovets said, “Milei’s support for Israel isn’t just political, it’s moral. He sees Israel’s struggle as a fight between good and evil.” | |
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Students — how to take action, deal with antisemitism, and organize your community.
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Alumni — how to organize a sign-on letter, answer a fundraising request, or write a letter to a university president.
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Parents — write a letter about commencement, organize a dial day, or get help selecting a college for your student.
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Faculty and Staff — support for impacted faculty and staff, and guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
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Glossary of Commonly Used Antisemitic Phrases Heard at Protests.
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Campus Antisemitism Report Card — see the grade a college earned in this first-ever report card.
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Report an Antisemitic Incident.
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Are you a student or know one who needs legal help? Contact our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), run by ADL, Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and Gibson Dunn. Hundreds of incidents have been reported. You are not alone!
Do you have something to share with us? Please email us at [email protected] with any suggestions, questions, photos or videos. | |
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