How to confront antisemitism, deal with protests -- and respect free speech

[Celerity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/29/columbia-protest-antisemitism-encampment-free-speech/

https://archive.ph/TYxhu



Many students and others on and around college campuses — including before the recent wave of demonstrations — have peacefully exercised their right to oppose what they consider Israel’s wrongful conduct in Gaza, as well as U.S. support for the Jewish state. Like many Americans, they find the terrible human costs of the Israel Defense Forces’ response to the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre — more than 34,000 mostly civilian Palestinians dead, destroyed infrastructure, mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis — militarily and morally unjustified. On too many occasions, however, protests have veered from legitimate concerns into antisemitism. Calling for a cease-fire and recognition of a Palestinian state is one thing. Celebrating or rationalizing the horrific violence of Oct. 7, or cheering on Hamas or other extremist groups, is quite another.

At some campuses, Jewish students, staff and faculty understandably feel intimidated and unwelcome. To cite a few examples from one protest hotbed, Columbia University in New York and its environs: Jews have been told “go back to Poland” and subjected to a handheld sign labeling them the Hamas military wing’s “next targets.” Jewish students were surrounded and pushed back by a student human chain, on instructions of a leading activist who warned that “Zionists” had “entered the encampment” — which protesters had set up in a public area. That activist, Khymani James, had previously told Columbia administrators that “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and suggested they should “be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.” (Three-month-old video of the meeting recently became public; Mr. James disavowed his comments only after they went viral.)

The worst expressions are not necessarily representative of all protesters, who themselves make up just a small fraction of students and young people generally. But any human rights movement worthy of the name should practice zero tolerance of antisemitism, period. This is cause for profound reflection by the protesters. Antisemitism is repugnant and contrary to democratic values; authorities who condemn it are making good use of their right to “counterspeech.” Beyond that, however, what should they do? Free expression, too, is essential to democracy. With very limited exceptions, people in the United States have the right to sing, write and say what they want, even if others find their language offensive or hateful. Illiberal official action is the wrong response to illiberal words.

Fortunately, the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, provides guidance that is both balanced and eminently workable. The First Amendment protects even highly objectionable or bigoted speech — short of actual harassment, threats or incitement to violence. And it allows provocative demonstrations, subject to rational, narrowly tailored limitations on how, when and where they occur. Rules must be enforced evenhandedly, in what the court has called a “viewpoint-neutral” manner. (If only university leaders had not previously tilted, selectively, against speakers who contravene progressive norms, or equivocated about antisemitic rhetoric at congressional hearings.)

snip

[comradebillyboy]

1. The antisemitism is a feature not a bug.

many of the demonstrators call for the erasure of the Israeli state which would lead to the erasure of the Jewish population. The Palestinian population has never reconciled itself to the existence of the state of Israel. Hamas tells us they want to kill every Jew on Earth. These attitudes contribute to Israel's tendency to disproportionate and excessive response.

[JCMach1]

2. No respect for anti-Semitism, or astro-turf protests

Built with Petro dollars by Trump's friends in the Middle-East to interfere with US elections.
https://www.ocregister.com/2024/04/30/qatari-money-and-the-pro-palestinian-campus-takeovers/

[Demsrule86]

3. Some held hostages and some shouted we got them as Jewish American kids were

attacked. I think they should be expelled and the violent ones arrested. It is ridiculous. How are they helping? We need a two-state solution.

[appmanga]

4. Legitimate protestors...

...should have no use for the person who thinks like this:

That activist, Khymani James, had previously told Columbia administrators that “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and suggested they should “be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”

The problem is people like this somehow become the "spokesmen" and the focus. Maybe I have it wrong, but I think the vast majority of people who are protesting would disavow this bigotry.