What’s happening:

Jewish students at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) experienced intimidation by anti-Israel protesters during a student government meeting, leading to a need for police escorts. The university initially condemned antisemitism but later denied the event’s occurrence, causing confusion and concern among students and faculty.

Why it matters:

The university’s conflicting statements on the incident have raised questions about its commitment to the safety of Jewish students and its stance on free speech versus hate speech. This comes amid a broader context of rising antisemitism on college campuses.

The details:

On November 1, Jewish students required police escorts due to a protest by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), where explicit support for terrorism was chanted. UCSD later issued a denial of the event, which contradicted the experiences of students and faculty. After a video of the protest went viral, UCSD retracted its denial, admitting police involvement and the authenticity of the footage.

Between the lines:

Hillel at UCSD criticized the university’s defense of flying an Al Qaeda flag as “free speech,” highlighting the tension between protecting students and upholding free speech rights. The university’s initial denial and subsequent retraction have left Jewish students feeling vulnerable and distrustful of the administration’s handling of antisemitism.

What’s next:

UCSD has yet to issue an apology or explain its initial false statement. The Jewish community at UCSD awaits further action to ensure their safety and well-being on campus.

The bottom line:

The incident at UCSD underscores the challenges institutions face in addressing antisemitism and maintaining a safe environment for all students. The university’s response will be closely watched as an indicator of its willingness to confront and prevent hate speech and protect its students from intimidation.

This story was first published on ynetnews.