On Wednesday, a pro-Hamas rally took place at the University of Washington, where the leader of the group, who remained unidentified, made a chilling declaration.
"We don't want Israel to exist. We don't want these Zionist counter-protesters to exist," he announced, much to the approval of the crowd.
The leader also singled out Ari Hoffman, The Post Millennials West Coast editor, a known Orthodox Jew. "Last protest on this campus, we saw the chief of UW police shaking hands, making jokes, with known Zionist aggressors, like Ari Hoffman," he said, eliciting boos from the crowd.
The rally was organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return (SUPER-UW), a group endorsed by the university, which has been accused of promoting antisemitism. This event follows a vigil held by the group last week in honor of terminated Hamas terrorists.
The rally is part of a wave of pro-Hamas demonstrations that have swept across US college campuses since October 7, when Hamas terrorists killed, raped, and tortured over 1,400 Israeli civilians. Even before the total body count was confirmed, radicals at UW organized a rally in support of Hamas, where participants called for the genocide of Jews and endorsed the terrorists' brutal actions.
These rallies have not been confined to the university campus. Weekly protests have also been held in downtown Seattle, where participants continue to call for a genocide against Jews and the ethnic cleansing of Israel. Despite this, local media has largely downplayed the rallies, mischaracterizing them as advocating for the return of over 200 hostages, including US citizens.
Recent rallies, including Wednesday's event at UW, have featured signs bearing the logo of self-proclaimed Marxist Seattle council member Kshama Sawant. Sawant has previously hosted other antisemitic events using city resources and recently wore a Hamas keffiyeh during a press conference where she criticized the Jewish state and the US.
The rallies have attracted a diverse crowd, including many Antifa, defund the police, and other activists who have been seen at various other protests throughout the city.
The university has been criticized for its lack of response to these pro-terrorist events. A spokesperson for UW President Ana Mari Cauce said, We understand the fear the Jewish community is feeling during this very difficult time. We are aware of events such as Wednesdays walk-out, which are not condoned or otherwise supported by the University. The UW's Division of Campus Community Safety staff are working to ensure safety for the campus community."
In previous statements, the spokesperson has defended the pro-Hamas events as protected speech. This stance is in stark contrast to the university's previous actions, where it worked to shut down events organized by the UW College Republicans.
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