A group of George Washington University students projected a giant pro-Hamas antisemitic message into a library less than a mile from the White House.
Photo posted online by the watchdog group StopAntisemitism showed messages including “Glory to our martyrs” and “Dives from Zionist genocide now” projected onto the side of the Gelman Library for about two hours.
The message, in giant letters, also included “Free Palestine from the river to the sea,” a Hamas rallying cry widely interpreted as calling for Israel’s destruction.
Others read, “GW, the blood of Palestinians is on your hands” and “Your tuition is funding the massacre in Gaza,” as well as one that accused university president Ellen Granberg of “complicity in the massacre in Gaza.”
Campus police eventually charged four students who sat outside the library with projection equipment, according to the video posted to X.
“There’s a time and a place for that,” the officer told them.
At that point, a student wearing a black mask began arguing with the officer, claiming that he and his friend had not violated any student policies or laws.
George Washington University students displayed pro-Hamas messages in the library Tuesday night. One of the messages displayed at the Gelman Library read “Glory to our martyrs.”X / @StopAntisemites Another read, “Free Palestine from river to sea,” a rallying cry interpreted as calling for the destruction of Israel.X / @ StopAntisemit
“We did not damage any property,” said the unidentified male student. “It’s not physically on the side of the wall.”
But the officer calmly told the students he wasn’t going to argue with them — noting that they had been loitering for about an hour in front of the library, which is a few blocks west of the White House.
He also said dean of students Colette Coleman advised university officials to stop the demonstration, which began around 8 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m., according to the GW Hatchet campus newspaper.
The official explained that the university’s private status means school officials can prevent the group from displaying messages in the library, whose eponyms — Melvin and Estelle Gelman — are prominent figures in the DC Jewish community.
A video posted online shows a police officer talking to the student responsible for the display.X / @StopAntisemites
Members of Students for Justice in Palestine then packed their belongings, the student newspaper reported.
As they left, a student activist told the crowd that had gathered to watch the confrontation that the university was not taking action against student demonstrations supporting Israel.
“For every act of Zionism that happens on campus, every act where they clearly support the genocide of our people, nothing happens,” said the unidentified student.
“When we held a vigil to honor our martyrs, they shut them down, they sent the police to terrorize us, they sent journalists, they sent the administration.
“Remember what’s happening on this campus, see it in real time.”
Meanwhile, other students joined in singing Israel’s national anthem and the Jewish song “Oseh Shalom,” a song for peace.
A masked student is seen arguing with the officer.X / @StopAntisemites
StopAntisemitism, a group that shares photos and videos online, said the president of George Washington University should “immediately expel those involved.”
US Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) also called on school officials to “do the right thing NOW.”
“This is a message of genocide displayed on a building at George Washington University,” he tweeted.
“If the students responsible for this message are not severely punished by GWU, something is wrong,” he said.
“Genocide is not acceptable, cute or in any way. GWU, do the right thing now.”
George Washington University is less than a mile from the White House.UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
School officials on Wednesday said the statement projected onto the library “in no way reflects the views of the university.
“We are aware of the hardship, pain and suffering caused by many members of our community,” they said in a statement. “The University will continue to communicate with all members of its community about available support resources during this difficult time.”
The statement added that Granberg, the university’s president, “will communicate directly with the university community on this matter.”
Granberg previously criticized Hamas for its surprise attack on Israel earlier this month.
“This brutal level of violence and the shocking loss of innocent life continues to unfold, and I am horrified and saddened,” he said days after the attack.
“In no uncertain terms, I condemn this act of violence.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
