RT by @MarietjeSchaake: Today I visited my alma mater @gwuniversity to see for myself what these protests and the tent encampment was really all about. People are free to make their own judgments based on what they see in this video, but here are some of my impressions.

First of all, the protesters were not violent, not anti-Semitic, and nothing around the protests made me as a journalist or a Jew or a random passer by feel unsafe. There were about 200 people, 3 dozen tents, and a visible but quiet police presence at every entry point to the “encampment,” which is surrounded by metal gates. The protesters inside the gates have been there for more than 2 days, don’t have anywhere to go to the bathroom, and have no intention of leaving anytime soon. Those outside the gates can’t get in, meaning the encampment itself won’t grow although tents are popping up around it.

The leaders held a press conference and said they won’t leave until their demands are met, which include the university divesting of all financial connections to what they called the “Zionist regime.” They said 9 GW students have been suspended for protesting. They said the president of the university refused to speak with them. They called for the police to leave campus. They emphasized that they believe antisemitism is wrong but anti Zionism is right.

Their chants speak for themselves. If you are asking me, I don’t personally agree with what they are chanting. Specifically, I don’t think the term “genocide” is right but I do think there is lots of evidence the Israeli forces may have committed war crimes in Gaza and those alleged crimes must be investigated. But I was not there to express my views. I was there to observe and tell you my readers what I saw.

I saw lots of young people who have lost all hope that the system will do anything to address their grievances or the suffering of their community members. At the same time, I saw a protest effort that is demanding thin…

[2024-04-27 20:44 UTC]