Correction on October 28th, 2023: An earlier version of this article described part of the violence against Jews at Tulane as involving the attempted immolation (burning alive) of a Jew. It is now clear from video evidence that the Jew in question was not close enough to the flag for this to be true. The other reported information is accurate as of our current understanding. We are also including a new article from an external source which has recorded the eyewitness testimony refuting the antisemitic article published in Loyola University’s newspaper.
The list of college campuses where Jews are assaulted for existing – under the banner of “pro-Palestinian” (in reality, pro-Hamas and pro-genocide) protests – continues to grow every day.
Earlier today at Tulane University, a “pro-Palestinian” protester attempted to start a fire with an Israeli flag and, after failing, proceeded to beat the Jews around him who stopped it from happening.
Demonstrating the commonplace antisemitism of college-based news organizations, an article from Loyola University’s newspaper downplays the incident, describing the actions as an attempt to merely “deface” an Israeli flag, and reporting a claim that the Jews had provoked the incident by “[throwing] an Israeli flag into the back of a pickup truck” – a claim directly contradicted by eyewitness testimony. Additionally, the source fails to report the attempted murder of a Jew by the pickup truck driver, and incredibly even claims that Jews “responded by attacking the truck” and “forcing them to park the truck on the side of the road.” UCF Jewish Monitor stands in solidarity with attempted murderers who are inconvenienced in parking situations.
Despite assurances from Tulane’s administration, police did not intervene in the situation, and only made an arrest after immediate, intense, and sustained public outrage over the incident.
This incident follows several other campus pogroms which began after Hamas murdered more than 1,400 civilians in a targeted attack on innocents. At Cooper Union college in New York City, “pro-Palestinian” protestors trapped a group of Jews in the library while chanting genocidal slogans. At Columbia University, a Jew was assaulted by an explicit supporter of genocide. Next to the Chabad of San Diego State University, a man tore a Jew’s religious clothing and screamed antisemitic slurs at him.
UCF Jews should remain on high alert due to these incidents. Copycats seeking to glorify themselves by attacking or even killing Jews may attempt to commit violence against UCF Jews. UCF Jewish Monitor is aware of at least one student group, UCF’s Muslim Student Association which characterizes the Hamas murderers as martyrs; UCF Jews should follow the below precautions if confronted by members of UCF’s MSA:
If you are confronted by a pro-Hamas individual or group, you should attempt to quickly move to a populated area and de-escalate the situation by refusing to discuss it. Place as much physical distance between yourself and the individual/group as possible. Do not, under any circumstances, engage with or confront pro-Hamas individuals or groups. The best case scenario is that you will be filmed and your words used as agitprop, increasing the risk of violence against Jews at UCF and potentially around the world. The worst case scenario is too grim to discuss. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe the situation is escalating dangerously, or if you believe your life is in danger.