Brandeis University is banning the campus’ Students for Justice in Palestine chapter after SJP teams throughout the nation applauded Hamas for the terrorist group’s lethal assaults in Israel.
Brandeis SJP following Hamas’ terrorist assaults on Oct. 7 supported “Palestinian resistance in all of its forms” and rejected “the characterization of Palestinian resistance as ‘terrorism.’ ”
Hamas terrorists murdered an estimated 1,400 Israeli civilians and troops within the shock assault. Another 240 Israelis have been kidnapped, and practically 7,000 have been injured.
The college in Waltham, which was based by the American Jewish neighborhood a couple of years after the Holocaust, is not recognizing the Brandeis SJP chapter after nationwide Jewish teams urged schools to research their SJP chapters — together with for presumably violating the ban in opposition to materially supporting a overseas terrorist group.
“National SJP has called on its chapters to engage in conduct that supports Hamas in its call for the elimination of the only Jewish state in the world and its people,” Brandeis University stated in an announcement.
“Such expression is not protected by Brandeis’ principles of free speech,” the college added. “Students are welcome to express their support for Palestinians in a manner that complies with our rights and responsibilities.”
Brandeis SJP had organized a vigil for Palestine for Monday night time, however the group introduced that the vigil was canceled following the college’s choice to de-charter the SJP chapter.
“We recognize that such a decision is purely racist and goes against the values of Brandeis University, an organization that was built to fight racism in higher education,” Brandeis SJP wrote.
The pupil group additionally added, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” That phrase is an antisemitic slogan generally featured in anti-Israel campaigns and chanted at demonstrations, in accordance with the Anti-Defamation League. The slogan is a name for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that features the State of Israel.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression stated it was dissatisfied within the college’s choice to ban the SJP chapter.
“Make no mistake, Brandeis is punishing its students for nothing more than protected political advocacy,” FIRE Senior Program Office Zach Greenberg stated in an announcement.
“In this difficult moment, Brandeis could have demonstrated how students can engage with opposing viewpoints,” Greenberg added. “Instead, President (Ronald) Liebowitz is teaching them to simply silence those they hate. This betrayal of Brandeis’s free speech promises is a stain on the school’s 75-year reputation as a bastion for free inquiry.”
Meanwhile, Liebowitz lately signed on as a coalition founding father of the nationwide group referred to as, “Universities United Against Terrorism,” which is standing in assist of Israel in opposition to Hamas.
“We, the presidents and chancellors of universities, colleges and higher education associations across the United States of America and the world, stand with Israel, with the Palestinians who suffer under Hamas’ cruel rule in Gaza and with all people of moral conscience,” the nationwide group wrote with greater than 100 signatures from larger training establishments.
UMass President Marty Meehan can be a coalition founding father of the group.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”