The White House issued a strong response to critics who have given President Biden an “inappropriate” nickname for his support of Israel during its conflict with Hamas terrorists. In a bipartisan effort, a group of lawmakers sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to ban “Students for Justice in Palestine,” an alleged pro-Palestinian group that they claim promotes hate and endorses violence on college campuses in New York. The letter, signed by over three dozen lawmakers, cites the increasing instances of antisemitism following the October 7th attack by Hamas in Israel.
The lawmakers express concern for Jewish New Yorkers who have faced a surge in hate and bias in recent weeks. They specifically highlight the group “Students for Justice in Palestine” as a growing cause for concern on college campuses across the country, including American universities. According to the lawmakers, the group’s umbrella organization, National Students for Justice in Palestine (National SJP), views Hamas as a resistance movement and considers Palestinian students in exile as part of the movement, rather than in solidarity with it.
The lawmakers accuse SJP of publicly endorsing violence and attacks on civilians through statements released across New York State. They also allege that SJP members have chanted incendiary slogans at events, such as “from New York to Gaza, Globalize the Intifada,” “when people are occupied, resistance is justified,” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Pro-Palestine student groups recently staged a protest at Harvard Business School, condemning what they call Israel’s “genocide” of the Palestinian people. The lawmakers argue that this issue goes beyond a mere political dispute and is a matter of civil rights and equal protection of the law. They emphasize the importance of ensuring that Jewish students can receive an education free from persecution, harassment, intimidation, and threats to their physical safety.
NBC recently cut ties with a Palestinian journalist who was arrested in Israel for allegedly inciting terrorism through social media. Meanwhile, the federal government has initiated civil rights investigations into seven schools and universities, including Ivy League institutions like Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania, over allegations of antisemitism or Islamophobia since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The investigations also extend to other institutions such as Wellesley College, Lafayette College, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, and the Maize Unified School District.
The article concludes by stating that Digital has reached out to National SJP and Governor Hochul’s office for comment. Students for Justice in Palestine, founded in 1993, has established chapters on various college campuses, including Columbia, Brandeis University, and Florida’s university system.
In summary, as antisemitism continues to rise in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, lawmakers are urging action against Students for Justice in Palestine due to their alleged endorsement of violence and attacks on civilians. This issue is seen as a civil rights and equal protection matter, with the lawmakers emphasizing the need for Jewish students to have a safe educational environment. The federal government has also launched investigations into several institutions over allegations of antisemitism or Islamophobia.
