The aftermath of a violent attack carried out by the militant group Hamas against Israel, resulting in the loss of 1,400 lives, has reportedly given rise to an alarming increase in antisemitism on college campuses across the United States. The National Students for Justice in Palestine facilitated this spike by releasing a "toolkit" designed to aid chapters nationwide in organizing a day of resistance. The toolkit depicted the rampage, which claimed many civilian lives and resulted in hundreds taken hostage, as a "historic victory for Palestinian resistance."
"In the aftermath of Hamas' attack against Israel, there has been a disturbing rise in reports of antisemitism on college campuses," said National Students for Justice.
One incident took place at Tulane University where an attempt to set fire to an Israeli flag sparked a brawl. Posters featuring kidnapped Israelis were torn down at Columbia University as reported by US CNN. Moreover, both Harvard and Columbia Universities witnessed the appearance of a "doxxing truck" revealing names of students whose organizations held Israel wholly accountable for the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas and all subsequent violence. At Cornell University, classes were suspended one Friday following death threats aimed at Jewish students posted under the username "hamas soldier" on a Greek life website. In connection with these threats, Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old Cornell student was arrested facing federal charges related to online threats but is yet to enter his plea.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed that its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is experiencing a backlog due to heightened call volumes according to Axios reports. This comes amidst universities battling increased pressure to tackle burgeoning instances of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. Hate crimes along with anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and antisemitic abuse have risen since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted last month leading some institutions even rescinding job offers for students affiliated with pro-Palestinian movements.
There has been a notable shift in public opinion, particularly among the younger generation advocating for social justice according to an article by US News. The emergence of pro-Palestinian solidarity has evolved from far-left ideologies into mainstream thinking coinciding with an increasingly assertive Israeli government and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. This transformation has stirred apprehension within the Jewish community and raised concerns among political conservatives who value the significance of U.S-Israeli alliance. These dynamics have significantly influenced responses to the Oct. 7 attacks.
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