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NEW DELHI: More than 600 alumni, faculty, and students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have called on the university’s president to take action against the spread of slogans, messages, and hateful acts that could pose a threat to the safety of Jewish and Israeli students. This plea comes in the wake of an anti-Israel protest where calls for “intifada” were heard, reported Fox News.
A group of 607 individuals associated with the institution, including a graduate from 1953, penned a letter to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, expressing their “deep concern, fear, and disappointment” following the chants of “one solution, intifada revolution” and “from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea, Palestine will be free!” at a rally supporting the recent Hamas terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of over 1,400 Israelis on October 7th.
“While we fully support the principles of free speech and the right to peaceful assembly, it is essential that we also prioritize the safety and well-being of all members of the MIT community,” the letter states.
The letter highlights that in addition to the use of these offensive messages, some participants at the event directed hateful language and messages towards Jewish and Israeli bystanders. In one instance, an individual aggressively grabbed their bicycles with the apparent intent to harm a Jewish MIT student, while making a statement suggesting that the student’s ancestors did not survive the Holocaust to harm Palestinians.
The signatories of the letter include individuals with advanced degrees, such as PhDs and MBAs, as well as recipients of prestigious fellowships.
They explain that within the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the term “intifada” refers to an “armed and violent Palestinian insurrection targeting Israelis, including civilians, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Israelis over the past few decades.”
The slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” has repeatedly been associated with calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and has been used in contexts that promote violence.
The letter’s signatories point out that recent events have illustrated the potential dangers associated with this slogan. They mention that during the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, British Home Secretary Suella Braverman proposed the criminalization of this slogan in certain contexts, recognizing the harm it can cause.
Additionally, on October 11, 2023, Vienna police banned a demonstration, citing the inclusion of the phrase “from the river to the sea” in invitations, as it was seen as a violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, reported Fox News.
An MIT campus organization, the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA), issued a statement on October 22 in which they held the Israeli government responsible for the ongoing violence. They characterized the deadliest day in the Jewish community since the Holocaust, which occurred on October 7 in a terror attack, as a response to the Israeli government’s policies.
The letter from the individuals associated with MIT demanded that the university administration discontinue any affiliations with individuals and organizations responsible for these statements on MIT grounds. They emphasized the need for the dissolution of the CAA and called for appropriate disciplinary actions against its leadership. Furthermore, they urged the establishment of clear rules and regulations to address on-campus incitement to violence.
Additionally, the letter requested enhanced security and oversight at events, which would include increased presence of MIT police and the implementation of physical and technological security measures.
According to Fox News, MIT President Sally Kornbluth, in an October 10 statement, condemned the Hamas terror attacks, categorizing them as horrifying and unjustifiable. On October 21, following the anti-Israel protest, Kornbluth issued another statement in which she reiterated her support for free speech but expressed concern about individual targeting, harassment, and calls to violence on campus. She emphasized the need to ensure the safety of the MIT community through practical measures.
One of the organizers of the letter mentioned that while Kornbluth responded to individual emails from concerned students after the protest, she had not yet responded to the letter. The organizer remains hopeful that the delay signifies that MIT leadership is preparing a thoughtful and comprehensive response. The letter initially had 550 signatures, and 57 more MIT affiliates have since joined the call to action.
(via Fox News)
A group of 607 individuals associated with the institution, including a graduate from 1953, penned a letter to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, expressing their “deep concern, fear, and disappointment” following the chants of “one solution, intifada revolution” and “from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea, Palestine will be free!” at a rally supporting the recent Hamas terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of over 1,400 Israelis on October 7th.
“While we fully support the principles of free speech and the right to peaceful assembly, it is essential that we also prioritize the safety and well-being of all members of the MIT community,” the letter states.
The letter highlights that in addition to the use of these offensive messages, some participants at the event directed hateful language and messages towards Jewish and Israeli bystanders. In one instance, an individual aggressively grabbed their bicycles with the apparent intent to harm a Jewish MIT student, while making a statement suggesting that the student’s ancestors did not survive the Holocaust to harm Palestinians.
The signatories of the letter include individuals with advanced degrees, such as PhDs and MBAs, as well as recipients of prestigious fellowships.
They explain that within the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the term “intifada” refers to an “armed and violent Palestinian insurrection targeting Israelis, including civilians, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Israelis over the past few decades.”
The slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” has repeatedly been associated with calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and has been used in contexts that promote violence.
The letter’s signatories point out that recent events have illustrated the potential dangers associated with this slogan. They mention that during the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, British Home Secretary Suella Braverman proposed the criminalization of this slogan in certain contexts, recognizing the harm it can cause.
Additionally, on October 11, 2023, Vienna police banned a demonstration, citing the inclusion of the phrase “from the river to the sea” in invitations, as it was seen as a violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, reported Fox News.
An MIT campus organization, the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA), issued a statement on October 22 in which they held the Israeli government responsible for the ongoing violence. They characterized the deadliest day in the Jewish community since the Holocaust, which occurred on October 7 in a terror attack, as a response to the Israeli government’s policies.
The letter from the individuals associated with MIT demanded that the university administration discontinue any affiliations with individuals and organizations responsible for these statements on MIT grounds. They emphasized the need for the dissolution of the CAA and called for appropriate disciplinary actions against its leadership. Furthermore, they urged the establishment of clear rules and regulations to address on-campus incitement to violence.
Additionally, the letter requested enhanced security and oversight at events, which would include increased presence of MIT police and the implementation of physical and technological security measures.
According to Fox News, MIT President Sally Kornbluth, in an October 10 statement, condemned the Hamas terror attacks, categorizing them as horrifying and unjustifiable. On October 21, following the anti-Israel protest, Kornbluth issued another statement in which she reiterated her support for free speech but expressed concern about individual targeting, harassment, and calls to violence on campus. She emphasized the need to ensure the safety of the MIT community through practical measures.
One of the organizers of the letter mentioned that while Kornbluth responded to individual emails from concerned students after the protest, she had not yet responded to the letter. The organizer remains hopeful that the delay signifies that MIT leadership is preparing a thoughtful and comprehensive response. The letter initially had 550 signatures, and 57 more MIT affiliates have since joined the call to action.
(via Fox News)
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