A UMass Amherst scholar was arrested after allegedly punching a Jewish scholar who was holding an Israeli flag after which spitting on the flag, the “latest proof that Jewish students are under attack” on campus, based on the Anti-Defamation League.
The alleged assault occurred after UMass Hillel held a stroll and gathering on campus Friday, because the Jewish college students referred to as for the return of the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The occasion included symbolic Shabbat tables with a seat for every of the 240 hostages.
At the tip of the gathering, a scholar not concerned within the occasion walked by means of the group and allegedly gave individuals the center finger, UMass Hillel reported.
Then after the occasion, the identical scholar returned and allegedly punched a Jewish scholar holding an Israeli flag, based on UMass Hillel. The scholar then took the flag and allegedly spit on it.
A Hillel employees member stepped in to cease the assault, and the incident was witnessed by UMass employees. A police report was filed, and UMass Police officers arrested the coed.
The scholar was launched on bail, with situations prohibiting them from returning to campus, based on college officers who referred to as it a “deeply disturbing incident.”
“What this student is accused of is reprehensible, illegal, and unacceptable,” UMass Amherst officers wrote to college students on Sunday. “Let us be clear, these were the actions of an individual who did not speak for nor act on behalf of a group or anyone other than themselves. Peaceful advocacy and protest must and will be protected on our campus.”
The chief of ADL New England referred to as this alleged assault the “latest proof that Jewish students are under attack” on faculty campuses. Antisemitic incidents have been rising throughout the nation following Hamas’ terrorist assaults on Oct. 7.
“That this occurred on the Jewish Sabbath, immediately following a peaceful gathering held by UMass Amherst Hillel calling for the return of the nearly 300 hostages held by Hamas, is an example of the disturbing reality for Jewish students on campus right now,” stated ADL New England Regional Director Jonah Steinberg.
The ADL New England chief additionally referred to as on UMass management to create a activity power or advisory council to handle antisemitism on campus.
“While there is no indication of any ongoing security threat, Hillel will continue to maintain increased security out of an abundance of caution, and as always, we encourage students at this time to follow common sense best practices such as walking in groups at night and not engaging in counterprotest activities,” UMass Hillel stated in a press release.
“We know this incident is disturbing to many of us, particularly during a time when tensions, emotion and concern are heightened on our campus,” UMass Hillel added. “But we must not let the most extreme voices and actions create undue fear or dominate the campus climate. It is vital that our campus community model civility, as the Jewish community did on Friday in publicly and peacefully showing solidarity with the 240 hostages.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”