This event has raised concerns about the safety of Jewish students on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus.
A student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been arrested following an incident in which they allegedly assaulted a Jewish student who was holding an Israeli flag and then spat on the flag
The incident took place after a gathering organized by UMass Hillel, where Jewish students were calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The event featured symbolic Shabbat tables, each representing one of the 240 hostages.
Towards the end of the gathering, a University of Massachusetts Amherst student who was not part of the event reportedly made an obscene gesture to the attendees, as reported by UMass Hillel. Later, the same student returned and allegedly physically assaulted a Jewish student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who was holding an Israeli flag. It is alleged that the University of Massachusetts Amherst student then took the flag and spat on it. A Hillel staff member intervened to stop the assault, and UMass staff members witnessed the incident. The university police were called, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst student was subsequently arrested.
University officials have called this incident “reprehensible, illegal, and unacceptable” and emphasized that it was the action of an individual and not representative of any group
They have also stressed their commitment to protecting peaceful advocacy and protests on campus. The Anti-Defamation League has described this incident as further evidence that Jewish students are facing challenges on college campuses. They have called for UMass leadership to establish a task force or advisory council to address anti-Semitism on campus. The university is maintaining increased security measures in light of the incident. UMass Hillel has encouraged students to exercise caution and continue practicing civility, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a peaceful and supportive campus environment.
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