At the University of Michigan, it had been a surprisingly and refreshingly quiet semester – at least compared to last year – when widespread protests against the Netanyahu government’s catastrophic war in Gaza erupted. But lately it’s been calm. Students went home for Thanksgiving. Finals loomed. But, of course, the tension and pain at the crisis in Israel-Palestine remained buzzing in the background.
This week, we saw yet another flare-up in the fight that rages around campuses and the all-too-common presence of antisemitism that plagues them. In a brazen act of antisemitism disguised as supporting Palestinian freedom, unidentified individuals smashed windows with mason jars full of urine at the home of University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker and vandalized his car, all while his young children were home. Much like many in the Jewish community this year, Acker has faced persistent and targeted acts of hate to which his non-Jewish counterparts have not been subjected.
The Jewish community and much of the rest of the country are deeply discouraged and pained. These vile acts do nothing to advance the worthy cause of alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. Instead, they perpetuate disgusting notions of Jewish control and the despicable practice of holding individual Jews to account for the actions of Israel’s government.
It pains me even more because, by and large, the pro-Palestinian, anti-war protest movement has been non-violent, respectful and free of antisemitism, even as leaders on Michigan’s campus have proven to be an anomaly. I have personally visited the encampments and various demonstrations on campus to dialogue with other students, and I can confidently say that the majority of my peers believe in the humanity of all people: Palestinian and Israeli, Arab and Jewish.
Holding our ground as a pro-peace, pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian student movement has been no easy feat, but J Street U’s popularity on campus is growing. And while our message isn’t as flashy as a quick slogan, we’re able to engage with array of communities that give us critical insight into where the student body stands.
Unfortunately, there’s still hatred across the ideological spectrum. I’ve listened to some Jewish students’ inflammatory rhetoric about civilians in Gaza. I’ve even been called a “bad Jew” for fighting for Palestinian freedoms and a diplomatic future for Israel. Many on the left have justified Hamas’ heinous terror attack and dehumanized Israelis and, sometimes, all Jews. People to my left and right have called me a Nazi for advocating for mutual self-determination and a just, secure peace. Nonetheless, I will keep fighting for what I know is right.
In the wake of the unconscionable targeting of Regent Acker, we must recommit to our fight against antisemitism and hatred in all forms. We must do so in a way that protects legitimate expressions of speech and protest, and that rejects the weaponization of antisemitism for political ends.
So, at J Street U, we will continue to act. We will push for nuanced, balanced dialogue and education on our very own campuses. We will work with campus leaders, in our Jewish communities and with elected officials to encourage good-faith efforts to humanize each other. We will lobby on the national front for effective strategies that protect Jewish students and uphold free speech, including pushing for legislation like the Countering Antisemitism Act in Congress.
As the inauguration of Donald Trump, who has both trafficked in and weaponized antisemitism, approaches, it is more important than ever that our communities foster understanding and nuance. We – especially students who have endured so much turbulence, unrest and in some cases, violence – deserve effective, robust approaches to the scourge of antisemitism and hatred that has tormented campuses and beyond for far too long. We will fight antisemitism with equal, if not greater, fervor, all the while acknowledging everyone’s humanity.