Jewish students at the University of Washington were left terrified and in tears when hundreds of their peers held a "Day of Resistance" rally for Palestine.
The rally was advertised with an image of a paraglider, similar to those used by Hamas terrorists in their attacks on Israelis. Videos showed a student tearfully pleading with an administrator to stop the rally, expressing fear for their safety and questioning why the university was allowing it to happen. Other videos showed opposing students engaged in a shouting match, with one student declaring that Israel is "finished" and another hurling a derogatory insult at a pro-Israeli student.
The pro-Palestine rally was organized by a student group with the goal of supporting the Palestinian resistance and condemning Israel as a settler colonial state. While the organizers claimed not to support Hamas, flyers for the event featured a drawing of a paraglider, reminiscent of the ones used by Hamas in their recent attacks on civilians in southern Israel.
The rally took place just days after a University of Washington alum, Hayim Katsman, was among those murdered by Hamas. Katsman was conducting research on a kibbutz when he was found murdered in his apartment. Jewish students at the university, including Nina Carmeli, who has dual US-Israel citizenship, expressed their frustration with the rally, questioning how one can support a resistance that is killing both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Chabad at the University of Washington has reported that students and parents have reached out to them, expressing fear and insecurity in the wake of the rally. Rabbi Mendel Weingarten stated that students are feeling lonely and insecure, especially considering the additional threats locally. Many students have personal connections to individuals affected by the conflict, whether they are missing, murdered, or fighting on the front lines.
Some students now feel afraid to openly display their Jewish identity, such as wearing Star of David necklaces or yarmulkes. Freshman Anna Yekhilevsky shared that students are upset with what they perceive as a lackluster statement about the conflict from the university administration. President Ana Mari Cauce expressed sympathy for the victims of the violence and acknowledged the tragic reality that civilians bear the brunt of the violence. However, some students found the statement to be insufficient and criticized what they perceived as a "both-sides-ism" approach.
Student Aidan Dveirin expressed disappointment with the President's statement, stating that it breaks his heart. Dveirin argued that the attacks on Israel are rooted in the desire to annihilate the Jewish state and that Hamas has no interest in the well-being of the Palestinian people. He emphasized that this conflict is not about freedom, land rights, or occupation, but about distinguishing right from wrong.
The rally and its aftermath have left Jewish students at the University of Washington feeling frightened, insecure, and frustrated. They are grappling with the emotional toll of the conflict and the impact it has on their personal connections to the region. The university administration's response has been met with criticism, with students calling for a stronger stance against the violence and a recognition of the unique threats faced by Jewish students.
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