And so the protests begin on my campus

I walked across campus last week for an appointment, and came across protesters. Just wanted to give a first-hand account of how it is, instead of everyone relying on the exaggerated news representations of these types of events.

There were two "rallies" a few hundred yards separated from each other, one pro-Israel rally, with everyone wearing or holding the Israeli flag, and a pro-Palestine rally, with a lot of Palestinian flags flown. Both rallies were entirely peaceful with what looked like mostly students with some faculty/staff sprinkled in. Each had about 200 people, so not huge. We are a campus of about 20,000, for comparison.

The pro-Israeli rally looked more like a party, with loud music playing and people just chatting. At the pro-Palestine rally, somebody was speaking, and some protesters held the usual signs, calling for peace, immediate cease fire etc. There were a couple of signs calling for intifada (stupid, stupid..), but no "from the river to the sea" signs. There were also a few "Jews for Palestine" signs. Remarkably, there was a young female student with an Israeli flag circling around the protesters who was very agitated and berating them as pro-rape and pro-terrorist. She was mainly ignored by the protesters.

If this is the extent of these protests, they are perfectly fine with me. They were peaceful, nobody was blocked from going anywhere, protesters just were passionately making their points. And that's how it has been on our campus since 10/7/23, students have always been peaceful and largely kept their emotions n check. I am afraid, however, that outside agitators will latch onto this situation and bring violence to campus. So far, there was a small police presence, which was passive. However, I could see that if police will start trying to suppress these events, emotions could flare up. Time will tell.

 

A reliable source then, thanks.

That Israeli with the flag chanting "pro rape" was clearly trolling, looking for an emotional reaction.

Btw, they've just started in UK campuses this week. (Pro palestinian protests)

 

They are being organised, guessing it's social media.

 

Telling the truth isn't trolling. If Israel's transgressions are fair game, so are the Palestinians and their HAMAS allies.

 

Have you condemned the IDF yet?

 

I can imagine some protest on some campuses are peaceful and that's good. But some of what I see on TV is destructive. The law must deal with these cases.

 

Trolling is making provocative statements to elicit an emotional reaction from the audience.

The statements can be either true or false. You can use live bait or artificial lures.

 

The law has. MANY have been arrested. Good job by law enforcement officials.

 

Good to hear freedom of speech is alive and well there, for both sides of the debate. In my opinion, college campuses are exactly the place these sort of debates should be taking place. These are the young people that will be making the critical decisions for our world in the future, and the more awareness they have, and the more active they are in thinking about these sorts of issues, the better it will be for the world overall down the road when these kids are calling the shots.
I'm glad it has remained non-violent so far.

 

If they are so "peaceful" then I dare you to walk through the Hamas wannabee section wearing a Yamaca
I expect video footage.
ready...............go!

 

Awesome. Too bad the majority of protest don't work out like that.

 

I condemn those on both sides responsible for the killing of innocent civilians. This is NOT one-sided.

 

Ok, so instead of me dredging through your post history can you make a statement here, condemning the IDF in whatever words you deem appropriate?

 

Tell us what happens!

 

I just did. I condemn those on both sides, including the IDF on the Israeli side, for any actions that have resulted in the death and suffering of innocent civilians. But the IDF and what they are doing doesn't exist in a vacuum, so focusing only on Israel because you don't want to hold those in Palestine, HAMAS, and the other Arab countries giving aid to them responsible for their part just reveals your bias. You and those who only condemn Palestine/HAMAS are two sides of the same coin, saying the same dumb things.

 

"iCondemn the IDF for their collective punishment of palestinians, USA for providing IDF with the military capabilities to do such and also the palestinians that murdered un armed Israeli civilians at the kibbutz' on October 7" - Esau.

 

The protest at your campus (which is?) isn't indicative of the protests taking place around the country. It would be an error to try and use an exception to the rule as an example of the rule.

 

What was Israel supposed to do? Nothing?

 

Thanks for providing that in person account!

 

Good job. Remember you said that when you're focusing your posts purely on Israel.

 

Of course not. But that doesn't mean everything they do is now without responsibility.

 

Israel has done more to avoid non-combatant casualties than any other army in history. There's no way there was going to be zero non-combatant casualties.

 

It's important to counter the mass exposure that western mainstream media (pro Israel, as per government protocol, anything else results in cancellation) gets though.

 

What a great post and an encouraging report. The respectful airing of views while respecting each other's rights. Sounds like you are on a very good campus. Sending good thoughts your way that it continues in this manner.

 

So..... why is there no talk about hostages?