Three students from Barnard College, Columbia University’s sister school, spoke to reporters today in support of pro-Palestinian protesters, saying their own stories of being Jewish anti-Zionists are being ignored.
One Iranian Jewish student, Lea, has been suspended and noted that she and fellow students “proudly put everything we have on the line, because our vision is unclouded.” She said she saw the same trauma and pain of her own family reflected in the plight of Palestinians, moving her to join the protest.
“More than 15 Jewish students were arrested, suspended and evicted as punishment for protesting on their own campus,” said Lea, a student who identified by first name only. “For singing songs of love and liberation for Columbia’s divestment and a free Palestine.”
Jewish students led a Passover Seder event at the encampment last night, and students said they held shabbat prayers over the weekend, as well.
Soph Askanase, who was arrested and suspended last week, rejected portrayals of the Jewish community as a monolith. Askanse, who uses they/them pronouns, said they felt unsafe months ago on campus when they were sprayed with chemicals during a Palestinian demonstration, and they were bedridden for days.
“I would encourage everyone to listen to a variety of perspectives and to analyze what it means to not like something or disagree with something versus to actively be in a position of being unsafe, because when you are arrested, dragged out in zipties … that is what being unsafe is,” they said.
Mahmoud Khalil said he is an international student and Palestinian refugee, who fears participating in protests because he could be arrested and eventually deported.
“And this is why a lot of Palestinian students here, they feel very uncomfortable participating and protesting … that’s why we are very grateful for everyone on campus for protesting on our behalf,” Khalil said.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
