Latest news with #proPalestinian
ABC News
an hour ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Student activists say freedom of speech is under attack
When Finn Penter hung six posters outside a lecture theatre at his university, he had no idea it would lead to a formal reprimand. Finn, a member of the University of Western Australia's (UWA) student guild, hung the posters to alert others to changes in university regulations that he believes would limit students right to protest. The six posters bore the slogans "free speech is under attack" and "clubs are under attack". He is also a member of the Socialist Alternative and has been involved in pro-Palestinian activism on campus. "I think it's quite ludicrous that they're equating those acts with the act of expressing my political opinion." The UWA would not comment directly on Finn's disciplinary process, but in a statement a spokesperson said the use of posters and stickers on university buildings had always been restricted to the Guild area on campus. "Unfortunately, last year there was a notable lack of regard shown to the university, its grounds, and our buildings," the spokesperson said. "Our university security officers, who prioritise the safety of our students, were required on multiple occasions to divert resources to removing posters, chalk and stickers." Finn believes his disciplinary action is a sign of UWA cracking down on freedom on speech. Earlier this year the UWA also implemented a ban on student announcements before lectures. That ban has now been eased and students are able to make announcements if they have permission from the university. Other universities around the country are making similar changes. They come after Palestinian solidarity protests and encampments, but universities say the new rules are not specifically related to pro-Palestinian activism. Monash University in Melbourne implemented a new student code of conduct at the start of this year. The code included a clause which prevented students from acting in a way that would "adversely impact the reputation of the university". That reference to reputation has since been removed from the code. The new student code also prohibits students from disrupting "orderly conduct" of any university-related activity. A spokesperson for Monash said the university supports students academic freedom and freedom of speech. "The University developed the Student Code in consultation with student representatives and has continued to consult with student groups," the spokesperson said. "It was agreed that a previous reference to reputation in the Code was incorrectly included, and was then subsequently removed." Madi Curkovic, who is a member of the Monash Student Association, is worried the university is trying to stop students speaking out against the university. She has faced disciplinary action in the past for her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. "The question of having free and open discussions is something that should be part of university life … but there is a slow encroachment," she said. In the heart of Melbourne, students at the University of Melbourne have told triple j hack police have visited the homes of students involved in on campus activism. One student, who didn't want their name used, said the police visit left her scared she would get raided. The police visits related to a particular protest in the office of a University of Melbourne academic. Students, some of whom were masked and wearing keffiyehs, entered the office chanting and putting up stickers. The student protesters said they acted peacefully and entered the office during open office hours. But Steven Prawer, the academic involved, told triple j hack the protest was "frightening" and "intimidating". Victoria Police said officers attended the incident and moved students on, but did not confirm if investigations are still ongoing. A spokesperson for the University of Melbourne said the university was in regular contact with police to ensure campuses remain safe spaces for staff, students and visitors. "Where there are instances of unacceptable behaviour, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which, for actions that may be criminal, may involve referral to the police," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also said the university supports students right to protest and that since a ban on indoor protests was implemented in March, students and staff have reported feeling safer on campus. The University of Sydney is also considering changes to protest rules on campus. In January the university proposed banning lecturer announcements, mass emails and the display of banners without prior approval. The proposals were made in response to an external review of university regulations after last year's Palestinian solidarity encampments. The head of University of Sydney's Australasian Union of Jewish Students, Dror Liraz, told triple j hack she doesn't believe people's right to free speech is under attack. "The new guidelines aren't restricting anything, protests can still happen, and you can still protest whatever you like," she said. Dror, who was born in Israel, was part of a protest movement last year calling for the resignation of University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott. She said it has been incredibly difficult to be on campus over the past 12 months. "I'm struggling to keep up with work," Dror said. "I remember during the encampment when things were especially intense, I would just sit in front of the computer trying to write my assignments and just would not be able to. "I would not be able to think about anything else apart from the fact that there seems to be people at my university, who no matter how hard I try, just seem to hate me." Dror believes having some restrictions on how and when people can protest could help protect Jewish students. "If you think that antisemitism falls into your freedom of speech, then that's just blatant racism."
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Turning a blind eye to genocide': Mass. Rep. Neal's visit to Ireland protested
Wielding signs that read "Richard Neal, you can't hide. You're supporting genocide," protesters made their voices heard this week as a Western Massachusetts lawmaker visited Ireland. Around 50 pro-Palestinian protesters greeted U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, as he was hosted by the Killarney County Council, according to reports by The Journal, an Irish news organization. Neal, the top Democrat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, is among the ranks of U.S. House lawmakers who have backed Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza. Protesters took Neal to task for that support, along with his vote in favor of a controversial antisemitism awareness bill that critics say is a pretext for cracking down on support for the Palestinian cause, the Irish news outlet reported. Neal, of Springfield, was one of six of the Bay State's nine House lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill. The protesters, who gathered outside Muckross House, a historic Victorian mansion in an Irish national park, accused Neal of hypocrisy because he played a key role in facilitating the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the longest period of conflict in Irish history, the newspaper reported. The 1998 peace pact also ensured there would not be a return to a 'hard border' between British-controlled Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Neal, 76, is the top Democrat on Congress's Friends of Ireland Caucus, according to his official biography. One of those protesters, whom The Journal identified only as Maria, told the news outlet that 'obviously the peace process is really important to Northern Ireland, which is still under occupation.' 'We're put in a really horrible position by having him here, having him hosted, and having people stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel because of his position,' Maria, who helped organize the protest, continued. Neal was among the scores of high-profile pols and business leaders who traveled to Ireland for the Global Economic Summit, which ran through Wednesday. The Springfield lawmaker also has ancestral ties to the area, according to the Irish news outlet. RFK Jr. slammed raw milk shots with podcast host in the White House Major Trump foe says Republicans keep approaching her with shocking message 'Incredibly ironic': Trump antisemitism effort may force out Harvard's Israeli Jews 'We're not sanctuary cities': WMass mayors push back at feds over DHS target list New poll shows who Dems want in 2028 — and it's not Kamala Harris Read the original article on MassLive.
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
The band Imagine Dragons sets social media ablaze after waving Palestinian flag at Milan concert
Rock band Imagine Dragons set social media ablaze after lead singer Dan Reynolds waved a Palestinian flag on stage during a concert in Milan, Italy on Tuesday. Video clips of Reynolds picking up a Palestinian flag and waving it before draping it across his shoulders at the concert's end racked up millions of views and drew mixed reactions on social media. The band's frontman also kissed the flag and threw it back into the crowd. Palestinians on social media praised the band for its support. One post that reached over one million views applauded the "powerful gesture." "Very nice to see more people showing support," another pro-Palestinian account posted. Liberals also applauded the band for appearing to take a political stand while they poked fun at the band over their dislike of their music. "Omg Radiohead has now been lapped by IMAGINE DRAGONS?!?" Stand-up comedian Matt Lieb wrote in a post that reached over two million views. Lieb was referring to the band Radiohead telling off an anti-Israel heckler during a show last October. "Imagine Dragons are now on the very short list of respectable celebs," another person praised. But Jewish fans of the band and pro-Israel commentators expressed their disappointment and outrage. "It looks like the band 'Imagine Dragons' supports terrorism," ACT for America Chairman Brigitte Gabriel wrote. "You know it's moments like these where I genuinely don't know what to do with myself anymore... I actually really liked Imagine Dragons, But now it seems they genuinely hate my people," one Jewish fan posted, adding, "It's disgusting how people still view Palestine as a moral virtue when it's all a myth." One popular post by a Jewish woman who says her grandparents were Holocaust survivors accused the band of "waving their solidarity with terrorists." "They're calling for 'gay rights' and 'Free Palestine,'" her post continued. "Essentially, they just called for the deaths of all gay people — and their music career. Goodnight, Imagine Dragons." The band is outspoken about its support for the LGBTQ community and Reynolds waved "Progress Pride" flags at previous shows. During the Milan concert, Reynolds also waved a Ukrainian flag. Representatives of Imagine Dragons did not immediately return a request for comment. The band faced blowback for playing in Israel in August 2023, before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. During a July 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, Reynolds said he didn't have any regrets about playing shows in Israel and in Azerbaijan. "I don't believe in depriving our fans who want to see us play because of the acts of their leaders and their governments. I think that's a really slippery slope. I think the second you start to do that, there's corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?" Reynolds told the outlet.
Fox News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Jewish students walk out after MIT commencement speaker accuses university of aiding Israel's 'genocide'
A commencement speaker accused the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of being part of wiping "Palestine from the face of the Earth" Thursday, leading multiple students to walk out. Megha M. Vemuri, MIT's class of 2025 president, praised her classmates for protesting against Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks and the ensuing Gaza War. "Last spring, MIT's undergraduate body and graduate student union voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the genocidal Israeli military. You called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. And you stood in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian activists on campus. You faced threats, intimidation and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials," Vemuri said. Her comments drew a mix of boos and cheers, according to video obtained by Fox News Digital. One of the attendants, waving what appeared to be a Palestinian flag, scuffled with security. Some students walked out as Vemuri spoke. Others in the crowd shouted, "Shame." "But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide. Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza," Vemuri continued. She went on to say, "We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth. And it is a shame that MIT is a part of it." Jewish and Israeli students walked out and some in the crowd protested as Vemuri accused the university of being "directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people." "The Israeli occupation forces are the only foreign military that MIT has research ties with. This means that Israel's assault on the Palestinian people is not only aided and abetted by our country, but our school. As scientists, engineers, academics, and leaders, we have a commitment to support life. Support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni that MIT cuts the ties," she said. One graduating Israeli student, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital, "All of our families came from far to see the ceremony and were extremely disappointed. All the Jewish families, not only the Israelis, stepped out and left the ceremony. MIT administration approved and supported that." After Vemuri gave her speech at Thursday's commencement event, she was told she would not be allowed at Friday's undergraduate ceremony. "With regard to MIT's Commencement 2025 activities, the speech delivered by a graduating senior at Thursday's OneMIT Commencement Ceremony was not the one that was provided by the speaker in advance. While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," an MIT spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony." College campuses across the U.S. have been rocked with protests amid the Gaza war. MIT was among a plethora of campuses where antisemitic agitators delivered incendiary speeches and faced off with police. Not too far from MIT, Harvard is facing serious pressure from the Trump administration over allegedly harboring "pro-terrorist" conduct on campus, losing millions in federal funding.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Trump's Campaign Against Foreign Students Is on Shaky Legal Ground
The Trump administration has grabbed nationwide attention with the arrest of students and academics as part of its push to limit pro-Palestinian speech on college campuses. One by one, judges are pushing back on those efforts. In recent weeks, the courts have released several foreign students from detention while their cases continue and halted the government's efforts to limit international student visas.
