Senior correspondent Eric Shawn reports that Jewish students claim they have not been protected by the university on ‘America Reports.’ Over the weekend, a group of anti-Israel protesters gathered outside the home of Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., honking car horns and screaming in an attempt to hold him accountable for his perceived “silence” on the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza during Israel’s conflict with Hamas. A video posted by a supporter of the protesters shows cars lining the street outside Thanedar’s home, an individual waving a cloth-like material, and others using megaphones to express their grievances. One protester can be heard shouting, “You are complicit in the bombing of Gaza… Your silence is violence. Your silence is abhorrent, and we will not let you sleep!”
The video also captures a protester holding a sign that reads, “20,000 GAZANS DEAD! WAKE THE F–K UP SHRI!!!” Thanedar, who has been a staunch supporter of Israel, distanced himself from the Democratic Socialists of America following their response to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people. He has consistently expressed his unwavering support for Israel, stating on his campaign website that he will “defend Israel’s right to exist and to thrive.”
In response to the incident, Thanedar condemned the alleged hacking of his X account, which led to the posting of a now-deleted antisemitic message. The message claimed that Israel has been paying off politicians for too long and called for the liberation of Palestine from what it referred to as a “terrorist state.” Thanedar promptly deleted the post and reiterated his support for Israel, emphasizing that funding for the nation should not be contingent on specific conditions.
This incident has raised concerns among Jewish students who feel unprotected by the university. The protesters’ actions have sparked a debate about freedom of speech, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the role of politicians in addressing international crises.
As the 2024 campaign trail heats up, it will be interesting to see how candidates address sensitive international issues such as the Israel-Gaza conflict. Stay tuned for more updates on the campaign and exclusive interviews with political figures.
