Box trucks with billboards demanding the firing of University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill for her handling of campus antisemitism were deployed to the Ivy League school on Thursday. The trucks, funded privately, circulated the Philadelphia campus while making stops at popular student spots, displaying messages such as “FIRE LIZ” and showcasing photos of Jewish victims killed or taken hostage by Hamas. This protest comes in the wake of a congressional hearing where Magill, along with presidents from Harvard and MIT, faced scrutiny over their response to antisemitism on their respective campuses after Hamas launched attacks on Israel.
During the hearing, Magill faced criticism for her response to a question about whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated the school’s code of conduct on bullying or harassment. When asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik if such speech constituted harassment, Magill responded that it could be considered harassment if the speech becomes conduct. This response drew further condemnation from the billboard trucks, which featured footage of the exchange and called for Magill’s firing.
Magill attempted to clarify her comments in a social media video, acknowledging that a call for the genocide of Jewish people is “evil” and expressing regret for not emphasizing this during the hearing. However, Stefanik dismissed the video as a “pathetic PR clean up attempt,” emphasizing that no statement could undo the impact of the initial response.
The protest and backlash highlight the growing concerns over antisemitism on college campuses and the perceived failure of university leaders to adequately address the issue. The University of Pennsylvania has not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation.
In a time when incidents of antisemitism are on the rise, this controversy at the University of Pennsylvania serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and combating hate speech and discrimination in educational institutions.
