Staff Reports
At a House Judiciary hearing on Wednesday, a group of pro-Palestinian protestors disrupted the statements of conservative and Jewish college students who were testifying about the suppression of their right to free speech on college campuses. The protestors shouted out their support for Rashida Tlaib and claimed that Israel has been practicing apartheid for a longer period than what happened on October 7th. The protestor insisted, “You will not silence us!” and demanded an immediate ceasefire.
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Showed Up at a Hearing on Anti-Semitism. Here’s What Happened Next.https://t.co/13g7eEdqqu
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) November 8, 2023
One of the students, Connor Ogrydziak, was interrupted by a protestor who questioned how speaking out against genocide could be labeled as antisemitism. The disruption continued as others joined in, arguing that being in favor of Palestine does not equate to antisemitism. They insisted that Palestinians have the right to discuss the genocide of their families. The situation escalated as police approached and threatened to make arrests if the protestors didn’t sit down.
During the opening statements, Jasmyn Jordan, a student at the University of Iowa, shared her experience of being doxxed for her conservative beliefs. She explained that her organization, Iowa Young Americans for Freedom, faced backlash when they hosted Kellyanne Conway as a speaker. Jordan expressed her frustration, saying, “Simply because I’m black and hold conservative principles, these students believe that if you are conservative, you are hateful, support oppression, and only want to benefit straight white men, even though such beliefs are untrue.”
Amanda Silberstein, a Jewish student at Cornell University, was also interrupted during her testimony. She exposed the threats and discrimination she and other Jewish students faced on campus, including an alarming statement urging violence against Jewish individuals. The protestor interrupted Silberstein, shouting, “Free Palestine! Anti-Zionism is not anti-semitism.”
In reviewing this news story, it is evident that there is a concerning trend of suppressing conservative and Jewish voices on college campuses. It is disheartening to witness such blatant disrespect for the freedom of speech and the targeting of individuals based on their race, religion, or political beliefs. This narrative of silencing differing opinions goes against the principles that higher education institutions should uphold. It is crucial that steps are taken to ensure a fair and inclusive environment where all students can freely express their views without fear of discrimination or vilification.
