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Anti-Semitic Pogrom at San Francisco State
Front Page Magazine ^ | 05/13/02 | Laurie Zoloth, Director, Jewish Studies Program at San Francisco State University

Posted on 05/13/2002 8:02:17 AM PDT by FreeperinRATcage

Dear Colleagues,

TODAY, ALL DAY, I have been listening to the reactions of students, parents, and community members who were on campus yesterday. I have received e-mail from around the country, and phone calls, worried for both my personal safety on the campus, and for the entire intellectual project of having a Jewish Studies program, and recruiting students to a campus that in the last month has become a venue for hate speech and anti-Semitism. After nearly 7 years as director of Jewish Studies, and after nearly two decades of life here as a student, faculty member and wife of the Hillel rabbi, after years of patient work and difficult civic discourse, I am saddened to see SFSU return to its notoriety as a place that teaches anti-Semitism, hatred for America, and hatred, above all else, for the Jewish State of Israel, a state that I cherish. I cannot fully express what it feels like to have to walk across campus daily, past maps of the Middle East that do not include Israel, past posters of cans of soup with labels on them of drops of blood and dead babies, labeled "canned Palestinian children meat, slaughtered according to Jewish rites under American license," past poster after poster calling out "Zionism=racism, and Jews=Nazis." This is not civic discourse, this is not free speech, and this is the Weimar Republic with brown shirts it cannot control. This is the casual introduction of the medieval blood libel and virulent hatred smeared around our campus in a manner so ordinary that it hardly excites concern-except if you are a Jew, and you understand that hateful words have always led to hateful deeds.

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Yesterday, the hatred coalesced in a hate mob. Yesterday's Peace In The Middle East Rally was completely organized by the Hillel students, mostly 18 and 19 years old. They spoke about their lives at SFSU and of their support for Israel, and they sang of peace. They wore new Hillel t-shirts that said "peace" in English, Hebrew and Arabic. A Russian immigrant, in his new English, spoke of loving his new country, a haven from anti-Semitism. A sophomore spoke about being here only one year, and about the support and community she found at the Hillel House. Both spoke of how hard it was to live as a Jew on this campus how isolating, how terrifying. A surfer guy, spoke of his love of Jesus, and his support for Israel, and a young freshman earnestly asked for a moment of silence, and all the Jews stood still, listening as the shouted hate of the counter demonstrators filled the air with abuse.

As soon as the community supporters left, the 50 students who remained praying in a minyan for the traditional afternoon prayers, or chatting, or cleaning up after the rally, talking -- were surrounded by a large, angry crowd of Palestinians and their supporters. But they were not calling for peace. They screamed at us to "go back to Russia" and they screamed that they would kill us all, and other terrible things. They surrounded the praying students, and the elderly women who are our elder college participants, who survived the Shoah, who helped shape the Bay Area peace movement, only to watch as a threatening crowd shoved the Hillel students against the wall of the plaza. I had invited members of my Orthodox community to join us, members of my Board of Visitors, and we stood there in despair. Let me remind you that in building the SFSU Jewish Studies program, we asked the same people for their support and that our Jewish community, who pay for the program once as taxpayers and again as Jews, generously supports our program. Let me remind you that ours is arguably one of the Jewish Studies programs in the country most devoted to peace, justice and diversity since our inception.

As the counter demonstrators poured into the plaza, screaming at the Jews to "Get out or we will kill you" and "Hitler did not finish the job," I turned to the police and to every administrator I could find and asked them to remove the counter demonstrators from the Plaza, to maintain the separation of 100 feet that we had been promised. The police told me that they had been told not to arrest anyone, and that if they did, "it would start a riot." I told them that it already was a riot. Finally, Fred Astren, the Northern California Hillel Director and I went up directly to speak with Dean Saffold, who was watching from her post a flight above us. She told us she would call in the SF police. But the police could do nothing more than surround the Jewish students and community members who were now trapped in a corner of the plaza, grouped under the flags of Israel, while an angry, out of control mob, literally chanting for our deaths, surrounded us. Dr. Astren and I went to stand with our students. This was neither free speech nor discourse, but raw, physical assault.

Was I afraid? No, really more sad that I could not protect my students. Not one administrator came to stand with us. I knew that if a crowd of Palestinian or Black student had been there, surrounded by a crowd of white racists screaming racist threats, shielded by police, the faculty and staff would have no trouble deciding which side to stand on. In fact, the scene recalled for me many moments in the Civil Rights movement, or the United Farm Workers movement, when, as a student, I stood with Black and Latino colleagues, surrounded by hateful mobs. Then, as now, I sang peace songs, and then, as now, the hateful crowd screamed at me, "Go back to Russia, Jew." How ironic that it all took place under the picture of Cesar Chavez, who led the very demonstrations that I took part in as a student.

There was no safe way out of the Plaza. We had to be marched back to the Hillel House under armed SF police guard, and we had to have a police guard remain outside Hillel. I was very proud of the students, who did not flinch and who did not, even one time, resort to violence or anger in retaliation. Several community members who were swept up in the situation simply could not believe what they saw. One young student told me, "I have read about anti-Semitism in books, but this is the first time I have seen real anti-Semites, people who just hate me without knowing me, just because I am a Jew." She lives in the dorms. Her mother calls and urges her to transfer to a safer campus.

Today is advising day. For me, the question is an open one: what do I advise the Jewish students to do?

Laurie Zoloth, Director, Jewish Studies Program


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antisemitism; college; jew; palistine; sanfrancisco; university
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Once again, the leftist's teach students the world over how to hate.
1 posted on 05/13/2002 8:02:18 AM PDT by FreeperinRATcage
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To: FreeperinRATcage
Fight chaya with chaya....
2 posted on 05/13/2002 8:04:05 AM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: FreeperinRATcage
Perhaps if they sewed yellow stars on their clothes, the police would be able to protect them better.
3 posted on 05/13/2002 8:05:43 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: sheik yerbouty
The writer screwed up. He should have referred to the Pali students as "far right extremists".
4 posted on 05/13/2002 8:07:15 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: FreeperinRATcage
She called on every group to help her except the one that would stand with her ( Conservative Christians).
5 posted on 05/13/2002 8:15:39 AM PDT by Lady Heron
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To: FreeperinRATcage
If they are going to start seriously fighting back against anti-Semitism, they will have to learn to bring a videocamera to their meetings and catch the pro-terrorist animals in the act. Amazing what some video footage of the Jew haters in action would do seen on national TV.
6 posted on 05/13/2002 8:17:38 AM PDT by egarvue
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To: FreeperinRATcage
I'm on your side, amiga. When we see these attitudes surfacing, I'm watching the Jew's fear factor. They have a special sense about the 'long knives'. I will fight for them, and I hope I can encourage others to forget these ancient bull$hit hatreds.

What should the do Jews do? Here?? Keep doing as you are, your's is the correct example, the other betrays itself! In Isreal?? I defer to the Isreali's, but I want them to kick a$$!!!

7 posted on 05/13/2002 8:23:05 AM PDT by 68 grunt
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To: FreeperinRATcage
These people should prepare for violence by arming themselves-looking around for help is pitiful.This is not likely because these people are probably in favor of gun control.I like it that the true source of hatred is being exposed -leftist foreign students and their like-minded American fellow travelers.I'm not advocating offensive violence-simply that if you have a clubhouse like Hillel probably does they should be prepared to be attacked-and if they are they have every right to take care of business-they undoubtedly would be outnumbered and that is justification enough to use whatever means are available.
8 posted on 05/13/2002 8:31:06 AM PDT by steamroller
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To: FreeperinRATcage
Today is advising day. For me, the question is an open one: what do I advise the Jewish students to do?

"If he comes at you with a baseball bat, use a knife. If he comes at you with a knife, use a gun."

In all seriousness, I would advise the Jewish students to say "Sexual perversion on the state and local CCW laws" and arm themselves--and train together for self-defense. I'd recommend trench coats so they could conceal longarms. It's amazing how these brave warriors of Islam will suddenly become not-so-brave and fleeing for their lives after a few dozen of their number get mowed down.

9 posted on 05/13/2002 8:31:11 AM PDT by Poohbah
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To: FreeperinRATcage
Today is advising day. For me, the question is an open one: what do I advise the Jewish students to do?

How about joining the NRA and getting weapons training? These leftists don't understand that anti-Semitism is now part of the leftists canon.

10 posted on 05/13/2002 8:36:27 AM PDT by LarryM
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To: FreeperinRATcage; grlfrnd
I can hardly believe what happened...

I have a client who's Jewish, Berkely educated attorney, and even she is anti-Israel. Go figure.

11 posted on 05/13/2002 8:44:37 AM PDT by PoisedWoman
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To: FreeperinRATcage,American Preservative; deeel-me-in; CounterCounterCulture ; mac_truck...
Sounds like the tolerance you'de expect in San Francisco.
12 posted on 05/13/2002 8:56:41 AM PDT by Drango
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To: LarryM
Well, if not the NRA, the at least have them join JPFO.
13 posted on 05/13/2002 9:22:01 AM PDT by bsaunders
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To: steamroller
The little disposable cameras that you can buy for a couple of dollars are handy. When thugs behave this way, a dozen or so in the threatened group should whip 'em out and document the thugs...so action can be taken later. Post 'em on the internet. Research and id them and post that. Deprive them of anonimity.

And if the thugs object and attack, then you can shoot them.

14 posted on 05/13/2002 9:23:19 AM PDT by Rifleman
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To: FreeperinRATcage
Then, as now, I sang peace songs, and then, as now, the hateful crowd screamed at me, "Go back to Russia, Jew." How ironic that it all took place under the picture of Cesar Chavez, who led the very demonstrations that I took part in as a student.

Maybe behavior such as this will FINALLY break the leftwingsocialistliberaldemonrat/Jewish bond. But then again, maybe not.

15 posted on 05/13/2002 9:41:55 AM PDT by Pharmboy
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To: Drango
"The police told me that they had been told not to arrest anyone, and that if they did, "it would start a riot."

Hay Drango, remember this is what the Capt. of the SF police told us at that terrorist rally a couple of weeks ago by the city hall. We were outnumbered about 1,000 to 1 so the cops wouldn't protect our rights. What a sad state of affairs.

I was planning on going to this event last week with my camera but had to work. I wish I could have been there to document the "peace-loving Palistinians" at work...

16 posted on 05/13/2002 10:44:03 AM PDT by Syncro
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To: FreeperinRATcage
I hope this woman videotaped the counter-demonstrators. If not, take a camcorder to any of the demonstrations.
17 posted on 05/13/2002 11:06:43 AM PDT by Kermit
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To: *San FRancisco; GodBlessAmerica; Drango; Syncro; Cool Guy; CounterCounterCulture; jrherreid...
Thanks for the ping, Drango.

"The police told me that they had been told not to arrest anyone, and that if they did, "it would start a riot."

Hay Drango, remember this is what the Capt. of the SF police told us at that terrorist rally a couple of weeks ago by the city hall. We were outnumbered about 1,000 to 1 so the cops wouldn't protect our rights. What a sad state of affairs.

That's exactly what I was remembering when I read that, Syncro! What a education. : (

Thread ping.

18 posted on 05/13/2002 2:48:17 PM PDT by American Preservative
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To: Kermit
"...take a camcorder..."

Wouldn't baseball bats be more effective?

I'd bet serious money on it.

19 posted on 05/13/2002 2:56:04 PM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: FreeperinRATcage
Ahem....FreeperinRATcage - your title says, "Anti-Semitic Pogrom at San Francisco State."

Just wondering if you are aware that the actual title on the link reads, "Anti-Semitic Program at San Francisco State"?

It's only a couple of letters difference, but, thank goodness it was not a "pogrom"....'cause a pogrom is "an organized massacre, especially of Jews."

Just thought I'd mention that. FRegards. : )

20 posted on 05/13/2002 3:25:45 PM PDT by American Preservative
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