A pro-Israel barbecue was blocked by Rutgers University after an occupation by pro-Palestinian students this week. The action occurred as protests against Israel, including increasing antisemitism, have been growing on campus.
The college said that several Jewish organizations were barred from holding an end of the semester barbecue on Friday after the area was held by pro-Palestinian protesters. Rutgers Associate Dean of Students Kerri Willson said that the event would be canceled.
In the flier promoting the event, the Jewish organizations said that they would “celebrate the ending of the Pro-Hamas encampment on our campus.”
Students Supporting Israel co-founder Kelly Shapiro said that the cancelation was part of an “antisemitic double standard.”
“If they let them camp out for three days, almost four, how is it we can’t have a two-hour barbecue?” she asked.
Following the initial cancelation, the barbecue was moved to another location and was catered by a private business.
“They can try to intimidate us but we’re not afraid to be pro-Israel on campus,” said the co-president of the Students Supporting Israel group.
Some students waved the American flag as a counterprotest.
Rutgers was the site of a significant student protest, including a list of ten demands on the college leadership by demonstration leaders.
The college has not responded to demands that the college “divest from any firm or corporation materially participating in, benefitting from or otherwise supporting the state of Israel’s settle colonialism, apartheid and genocide of Palestine and the Palestinian people.” The college has also not responded to a demand that the college end its partnership with Tel Aviv University.
The college accepted eight other demands, including letting in Gazan students, creating an Arab Cultural Center, hiring new staff and faculty related to Palestine and Muslims and “providing full amnesty” for students penalized for their actions during the protest.
Rutgers has conceded 8/10 of the protestors demands after they forced the university to postpone 28 final exams this morning: https://t.co/hF9UsUAcSn pic.twitter.com/5r5DvqziiI
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) May 2, 2024
The college postponed some final exams due to the ongoing demonstrations. Some of the students in the tent encampment agreed to leave the site.
Students across the nation have created encampments at a number of other private, expensive colleges in recent weeks.
