Jewish students at the University of Maryland have taken a stand against growing antisemitism on their campus. After supporters of Hamas called for an ‘intifada’ and chalked ‘Holocaust 2.0’ on the walkways, students responded with determination. The incident sparked an investigation by the University of Maryland, which denounced antisemitism.
On November 10, pro-Palestinian students chanted for an “intifada revolution” and displayed graffiti with messages like “F— Israel.” The university took these actions seriously and launched an investigation into the matter.
In a separate development, “Saturday Night Live” alum Jon Lovitz criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders and members of the Democratic “Squad” for their opposition to Israel. Lovitz, who is Jewish himself, called Sanders a “self-loathing Jew” and expressed his disappointment in the shift of the Democratic party towards anti-Israel sentiment.
Experts have identified a disturbing trend in the anti-Israel protests happening across America. They argue that these protests resemble the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and are part of a larger movement aimed at destabilizing the country. Chris Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, suggests that these movements draw from the anti-America teachings of far-left academia, promoting a similar rhetoric of hatred and violence.
Furthermore, a member of a Maryland task force combating hate crimes faced suspension after publishing antisemitic social media posts. Zainab Chaudry, an anti-Israel activist, made posts that denied the authenticity of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and drew comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany.
The rise in antisemitism on college campuses and in society at large is a cause for concern. Ying Ma, a commentator, reflects on how American universities, mainstream media, and the Left have contributed to the normalization of antisemitism by either ignoring or condoning violence from certain groups.
This article highlights the need to address antisemitism and protect the rights and safety of Jewish students. It is important to foster an inclusive and tolerant environment on college campuses and in society as a whole.
