MINNEAPOLIS — Anger continues to erupt on college campuses as students voice their support for Palestinians and demand their institutions stop doing business with Israel, while others voice concerns over rising incidents of antisemitism.
It's a familiar scene, and one that we've seen on college campuses dating back to Vietnam. University leadership debates an old question: Where is the line when it comes to the balancing act of freedom of speech and safety in a place that is supposed to be the cornerstone of learning and debating?
For days now, students have gathered in large numbers on the university campuses. Many say they are advocating for peace on both sides. Among the chants is a debated phrase “From the River to the Sea Palestine Will be Free.”
Minnesota Hillel, a Jewish student organization, says those words make them feel unsafe.
On Friday, they held a press conference, along with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
"This chant means the destruction of Israel," said Sami Rahamim, the director of communications with JCRC.
He pointed out a number of examples that he said made students feel afraid on campus, including chants he said are anti-Semitic, flags from organizations deemed from the United States as terrorist organizations, and chalk graffiti that read "death to Zionism."
"I identify as a Zionist for many reasons," said Carlie Sachs, a junior at the U. "But above all, I do because I believe that the State of Israel has a right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. Seeing 'death to Zionism', as I'm walking to class feels as though the protesters on my campus want my Judaism to cease to exist."
Rahamim said he understands why people are raising their voices in hopes of ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He said he agonizes over the loss of life with them. But he said it is clear to see how language during these protests are linked to a rise in anti-Semitic instances on college campuses.
So far this year, there have been 122 complaints of bias riled at the University of Minnesota. Forty-two have been bias against Israel or antisemitic. Sixteen reports have been against Palestine or Islamophobic. Hillel says Jewish students make up only 1% of the student body.
Molly Seligman said she recognizes that people may not understand some phrases they chant, but they should.
"The fact that people are being able to say this rhetoric that they don't even understand, and no one has taken the time to explain it yet, said Seligman. "It's the part that makes it makes it scary to be a student here right now."
On the first day of protests at the university, nine people were taken into custody. William Chancellor, with Young Democratic Socialists of America, was one of those taken in.
"I think people in Gaza and Palestinians in general have been suffering tremendously," said Chancellor. "It's the least I can do."
Chancellor said the protests have been peaceful, and it is not the intent of protestors to make feel uncomfortable.
"I'm certain there's individuals that say things that are anti-Semitic," said Chancellor. "And we condemn that we don't, we don't believe in hatred. This has nothing to do with being against Judaism, or being against Jews. This is entirely against the State of Israel."
The protests continued again Friday, he question of balances continues to be debated.
"The key success has always been and will always be really fair, clear rules and policies and consistent enforcement of those rules and policies," said Derrick Anderson is the senior VP with the American Council on Education. "There are some non negotiables you know, freedom of speech is a non negotiable. Freedom from harassment is a priority, and that's not just freedom from harassment. Students are entitled to an opportunity to feel safe."
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