George Washington University President Censures Pro-Hamas Support on Campus
Hundreds of George Washington University students gathered at the campus’ Kogan Plaza on Oct. 9, 2023 to mourn those who died during Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. Photo: Dion J. Pierre/Algemeiner Campus Bureau.
George Washington University (GWU) President Ellen Granberg on Wednesday censured in strong terms any support on campus for the war crimes committed Hamas terrorists during their infiltration of southern Israel last Saturday.
“I not only condemn terrorism, but I also abhor the celebration of terrorism and attempts to perpetuate rhetoric or imagery that glorifies acts of violence,” Granberg wrote in an open letter. “Such messages do not speak on behalf of me, our administrators, or GW.” Granberg also expressed concern for all affected by the week’s events in the Middle East, calling on the campus community to “reach out to a friend, colleague, or classmate and show your support.”
The statement, representatives for GWU for Israel told The Algemeiner on Wednesday, resulted from conversations Granberg had with Jewish students as well as concerns raised by parents and alumni.
The statement followed days of demonstrations by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students on and around the George Washington University campus.
On Monday, hundreds of Jewish students gathered at Kogan Plaza to mourn the over 1,000 lives that have been lost since Hamas executed the most deadly massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. During the vigil, pro-Palestinian students walked by periodically and shouted, “F*** Israel” and “Palestine will be free!”
The next day, George Washington University’s Student for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter published a statement that some social media users have described as a call for the murder of Jews.
“Over the past few days, Palestinians in Gaza and across occupied Palestine have mobilized against the Zionist entity, seizing settlements imposed on our land,” the group said in a statement posted to its Instagram page. “This past weekend we witnessed them breaking free, tearing down the prison walls, and making it known to the world: We will be caged no longer.”
Such support for terrorism is a sign that radical movements on college campuses are out of control, experts told The Algemeiner this week.
“Cheering mass murder in the name of de-colonialism should be the final red line exemplified by the latest student groups who ‘hold the Israeli regime responsible for all unfolding violence,’” said Asaf Romirowsky, executive director of two professional associations for Middle East scholars. “Endorsing horrific mass murder is reprehensible on every level, and if we do not isolate these actions and comments, Islamic antisemitic terrorism in the academy will proliferate and rot our institutions of higher education.”
With Wednesday’s statement, GWU joined the University of Florida in condemning Hamas, both of which are among few universities who have elected to do so. Critics have argued that too many statements equated Israel’s self defense with Hamas terrorism and failed to censure students who expressed support for it.
More pro-Hamas demonstrations on college campuses are forthcoming. On Oct. 12, SJP campuses across the country will stage a “Day of Resistance” to discuss and share methods for assisting the terrorist group’s activities.
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
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