#224: This Generation's Vietnam
U.S. colleges are facing turmoil as pro-Palestine protests lead to chaos
In related news, a bill was just passed expanding the definition of antisemitism. Let’s look into what this means
How It Happened
On April 17, protestors set up 50 tents in Columbia University and started an encampment protest, demanding their school cut ties with Israel. The NYPD was sent in to arrest protestors and dismantle the camp.
However, students kept conducting protests, and the administration allowed police to conduct mass arrests. This was the first time such a thing happened since the 1968 protests against the Vietnam War.
The protests have spread in the past few weeks to virtually every state, with hundreds of students being arrested. This truly is a student movement the likes of which we haven’t seen in a while; protesting against a war outside of the U.S.
Anti-Zionist vs Antisemitic
What they want is for Israel to start a cease-fire and stop the death toll from rising. The way that the students apply pressure is by protesting against their universities to cut ties with Israel.
They call themselves Anti-Zionist and not Antisemitic, basically saying that they are not against Jewish culture or faith but against the state of Israel and its violence. However, many believe that the two share a very thin line, as chants have been accused of being threatening to Jews and some Jewish students have said they feel unsafe.
New Bill
This whole situation is seen to have contributed to a new bill being passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, redefining what antisemitism means on a federal level. This bill could make the distinction between anti-Zionist and antisemitic comments blurry (at least more than now) and potentially limit free speech.
Characterizing the college protests as antisemitism is a stretch. It is completely valid to criticize their beliefs and methods, but to say that this is “racism” is a little absurd. Sure, there is actual antisemitism as well but if we start bundling criticism of military action together with hatred against Jews we are going into dangerous territory. However, the way things are going, criticism against Israel’s military actions could very well be accepted as racism by federal law.
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