Anti-semitic slogans projected on University of Pennsylvania buildings – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Anti-semitic slogans were projected onto buildings at the University of Pennsylvania in the latest incident at the Ivy League college. The university is now confronting a civil rights complaint, alleging that it has become a “magnet for anti-Semites.”
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” one of the messages lit up against the John M Huntsman hall read.There were several similar messages such as, “Zionism is racism”, “Penn funds Palestinian genocide” and more. Images of the incident, described as a “light show,” circulated on social media, as reported by the New York Post.
University President Liz Magill has acknowledged a surge in anti-semitic incidents on campus, which includes the presence of ‘swastikas’ and hateful graffiti’. Additionally, she highlighted instances of “chants at rallies, captured on camera and widely circulated, that glorify the terrorist atrocities of Hamas, that celebrate and praise the slaughter and kidnapping of innocent people and that question Israel’s very right to exist”.
The pervasive anti-Jewish atmosphere has led the Brandeis Center to file a complaint against the University of Pennsylvania, along with Wellesley College, with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the US Department of Education. The complaint alleges, “Penn has allowed its campus to become a hostile environment for its Jewish students as well as a magnet for anti-Semites.”
The founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center and former US Assistant Secretary of Education, Kenneth L. Marcus claims that educational institutions have “failed to keep Jewish students safe and are in clear violation of well-established federal civil rights law”. “There’s been a lot of talk about rooting out anti-Semitism on campuses, and it’s time to hold these colleges accountable,” he said.
As per a statement by a human rights non-profit, the complaints are seeking “immediate and specific action to address increasing discrimination against and harassment of Jews in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In a letter sent earlier this month, two dozen members of Congress criticized the University of Pennsylvania for what they perceived as a lack of prompt and unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas attack.
On Monday, a number of University’s staff members reportedly received specific anti-semitic emails containing threats of violence against members of the university’s Jewish community, including those associated with Penn Hillel and Lauder College House. The emails allegedly “threatened violence” against Jewish individuals at the university, particularly those affiliated with Penn Hillel—a Jewish organization on campus—and Lauder College House, as stated by UPenn’s President in a statement on Monday.
“These messages also included hateful language, targeting the personal identities of the recipients,” Magill said.
“Threats of violence are not tolerated at Penn and will be met with swift and forceful action. The perniciousness of anti-semitic acts on our campus is causing deep hurt and fear for our Jewish students, faculty, and staff and shaking their sense of safety and belonging at Penn. This is intolerable. I condemn personally these vicious and hateful anti-semitic acts and words,” she added.
The college’s public safety officers did not find a credible threat but have increased security measures across the campus. The university has informed the FBI about the potential hate crime and is actively investigating the threats.
UPenn authorities are collaborating urgently with the FBI to ”identify the individual or individuals who are responsible for these hateful, threatening emails and to ensure they are apprehended and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Magill said.
Meanwhile, a student, believed to be from UPenn, was recorded expressing feeling “empowered and happy” about the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel. The clip, circulating online and shared by Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres, shows the back of the woman as she spoke at a pro-Palestine rally, saying, “I remember feelings so empowered and happy, so confident that victory was near and so tangible. I want all of you to hold that feeling in your hearts. Never let go of it. Channel it through every action you take.”
Following the heinous Hamas attack, the leadership of the University of Pennsylvania faced criticism for what some perceived as a delay in disavowing the violence. Even before the terrorist incident on October 7, the Ivy League campus had already received substantial criticism for hosting a Palestine Writes literature festival. This event featured speakers and invitees who had previously been accused of making anti-semitic statements.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” one of the messages lit up against the John M Huntsman hall read.There were several similar messages such as, “Zionism is racism”, “Penn funds Palestinian genocide” and more. Images of the incident, described as a “light show,” circulated on social media, as reported by the New York Post.
University President Liz Magill has acknowledged a surge in anti-semitic incidents on campus, which includes the presence of ‘swastikas’ and hateful graffiti’. Additionally, she highlighted instances of “chants at rallies, captured on camera and widely circulated, that glorify the terrorist atrocities of Hamas, that celebrate and praise the slaughter and kidnapping of innocent people and that question Israel’s very right to exist”.
The pervasive anti-Jewish atmosphere has led the Brandeis Center to file a complaint against the University of Pennsylvania, along with Wellesley College, with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the US Department of Education. The complaint alleges, “Penn has allowed its campus to become a hostile environment for its Jewish students as well as a magnet for anti-Semites.”
The founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center and former US Assistant Secretary of Education, Kenneth L. Marcus claims that educational institutions have “failed to keep Jewish students safe and are in clear violation of well-established federal civil rights law”. “There’s been a lot of talk about rooting out anti-Semitism on campuses, and it’s time to hold these colleges accountable,” he said.
As per a statement by a human rights non-profit, the complaints are seeking “immediate and specific action to address increasing discrimination against and harassment of Jews in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In a letter sent earlier this month, two dozen members of Congress criticized the University of Pennsylvania for what they perceived as a lack of prompt and unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas attack.
On Monday, a number of University’s staff members reportedly received specific anti-semitic emails containing threats of violence against members of the university’s Jewish community, including those associated with Penn Hillel and Lauder College House. The emails allegedly “threatened violence” against Jewish individuals at the university, particularly those affiliated with Penn Hillel—a Jewish organization on campus—and Lauder College House, as stated by UPenn’s President in a statement on Monday.
“These messages also included hateful language, targeting the personal identities of the recipients,” Magill said.
“Threats of violence are not tolerated at Penn and will be met with swift and forceful action. The perniciousness of anti-semitic acts on our campus is causing deep hurt and fear for our Jewish students, faculty, and staff and shaking their sense of safety and belonging at Penn. This is intolerable. I condemn personally these vicious and hateful anti-semitic acts and words,” she added.
The college’s public safety officers did not find a credible threat but have increased security measures across the campus. The university has informed the FBI about the potential hate crime and is actively investigating the threats.
UPenn authorities are collaborating urgently with the FBI to ”identify the individual or individuals who are responsible for these hateful, threatening emails and to ensure they are apprehended and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Magill said.
Meanwhile, a student, believed to be from UPenn, was recorded expressing feeling “empowered and happy” about the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel. The clip, circulating online and shared by Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres, shows the back of the woman as she spoke at a pro-Palestine rally, saying, “I remember feelings so empowered and happy, so confident that victory was near and so tangible. I want all of you to hold that feeling in your hearts. Never let go of it. Channel it through every action you take.”
Following the heinous Hamas attack, the leadership of the University of Pennsylvania faced criticism for what some perceived as a delay in disavowing the violence. Even before the terrorist incident on October 7, the Ivy League campus had already received substantial criticism for hosting a Palestine Writes literature festival. This event featured speakers and invitees who had previously been accused of making anti-semitic statements.
