Pro-Hamas demonstrators at Columbia University in New York City, US, April 29, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Pro-Hamas encampments and protests on college campuses have fostered a hostile environment for Jewish students, causing them to feel distracted and unsafe, a new Hillel International survey has found.
An astounding 61 percent of Jewish students reported that “antisemitic, threatening, or derogatory language” toward Jewish people was uttered during the demonstrations at their school this past academic semester, while 58 percent said that “Gaza Solidarity Encampments” at their school made them feel “less safe.” Others reported being unable to focus or sleep well.
The survey — conducted by Benenson Strategy Group on behalf of Hillel International, and to which 310 Jewish college students responded — found that 40 percent have resorted to concealing their Jewish identity to avoid discrimination. An overwhelming majority, 72 percent, said college administrators should clear encampments from school property and implement measures to prevent the disruption of commencement ceremonies.
The findings follow an outbreak of demonstrations across the US in which anti-Zionist college students took over sections of campus and refused to leave unless administrators agreed to condemn and boycott Israel. Footage of the protests has shown them chanting in support of Hamas, calling for the destruction of Israel, and even threatening to harm members of the Jewish community. In many cases, they have also lambasted the US and Western civilization.
“Jewish students, and all students, deserve to pursue their education and celebrate their graduations free from disruption, antisemitism, and hate,” Hillel International chief executive officer Adam Lehman said on Monday in a statement announcing the survey. “Our findings demonstrate that a majority of Jewish students surveyed have experienced bias and discrimination in their classroom and academic experiences based on faculty and staff abusing their authority in support of the rule-breaking and unlawful anti-Israel encampments and protests.”
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel, college campuses across the West have become hatcheries for antisemitism. Both students and faculty have demonized Israel and rationalized Hamas’ terror onslaught, and incidents of harassment and even violence against Jewish students has increased. As a result, Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe and unprotected. In some cases, they were subjected to threats of rape and mass slaughter.
Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) measured the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, finding a 321 percent increase in antisemitic incidents.
“University leaders are legally required to address these hostile and discriminatory conditions, and we will continue to insist that they do so for the benefit of Jewish students and all students,” Lehman added in Monday’s statement.
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
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