The University of Southern California has cancelled a scheduled commencement speech by Asna Tabassum, citing unnamed security concerns after her selection as valedictorian was met with a wave of online attacks directed at her pro-Palestinian views.
“I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own university - my home for four years - has abandoned me,” Tabassum said in a statement shared online.
On 6 April, USC announced that Tabassum was selected as valedictorian, a student with the highest academic achievements in her year, for the graduating class of 2024.
After the announcement was published on social media, Tabassum began receiving online attacks from an account named, “We Are Tov”, a group that describes itself as “dedicated to combating antisemitism”.
The university released a statement on Monday, saying that Tabassum would retain her position as valedictorian, but would not be allowed to give her commencement speech. The school said that the move was made to maintain safety on campus.
Unfortunately you can find similar arguments in some corners of Lemmy regarding violence against Israeli civilians. So I’m not sure how much better it truly is here.
This conflict has caused a disturbing number of people to suddenly think that hate, abuse, or even murder and kidnapping are suddenly acceptable when directed at people they associate with the appropriate ethnic, racial, or national group.
When it happens I just try to remind folks that while it’s ethical to oppose many Israeli policies, there are tons of Jewish dissenters who are allies. Basically every time folks will agree. One of my most powerful examples is Breaking the Silence, an organization that gathers, confirms, and publishes testimonials from IDF veterans about the reality of life in Occupied Palestinian Territory. 100% Jewish, and Jewish soldiers no less, and still 100% dedicated to making sure the truth is known no matter the cost.
I prefer the “not in my name” jews as my example.
There are many of us (I’m in Israel and involved in anti-war and anti-genocide activism). And most of us lost people on October 7th, some of whom were peace activists (look up Vivian Silver, for example). Since then we have also lost Palestinian friends and partners in activism in the ethnic cleansing campaign currently going on in Gaza.
It is true that we are a minority, but it is so hard facing discrimination from both sides - I have a pro-Palestine sticker on my computer, but it is in Hebrew. So when I’m in Israel, I get harassed about it. When I’m not in Israel, anti-semites who can’t read it assume it’s something pro-israel (or just Jewish).
It feels very lonely sometimes, so thanks very much, @GrymEdm.
You fuckers have balls of steel.
Even if you’re a female, you still have balls of steel, And my utmost respect.
It cannot be easy at all to try to stand up for something like that it Israel of all places.
I have an American Jewish friend who, long story short, has been treated very badly by her Ashkenazi family since deciding to support Palestinian human rights. I’ve seen what it costs Jews to speak up, and so I have a lot of respect for dissenters who act with their conscience in spite of the target it puts on their backs. It’s a difficult spot to be in, and I hope you can find some peace and reward in staying true to your ethics even in hard times.
Isn’t this just human rights? The language that’s used in this conflict is a bit confusing, for example one does not have to particularly like Palestinians as a group to be against the ethnic cleansing of Palestine or the violations of human rights and international law perpetrated by Israel on a daily basis, yet they are called “pro-Palestinian”. Of course some accusations of antisemitism are intentionally deceptive to silence opposition to Israel’s regime (or labelling opposition as “pro-Hamas”), but even the conflict overall is labelled as Israel vs. Palestine when in reality it’s Israel vs. international law. Maybe this is a hasbara narrative, idk.
The kicker here is that by equating opposition to genocide with antisemitism it means that perpetrating genocide is a trait inherent in Jews, which is hella racist.
Anyway your “Palestinian human rights” phrase made me want to ask what you and others think, not trying to bash you or anything. For example, when the U.S. invaded Vietnam, those opposed to the war were called “anti-war protesters”, not “pro-Vietnam protesters”.
Thanks for doing what you do. Most people have never tried taking a moral stand on something so controversial in their own community, so they may not know how difficult it truly is.
I am lucky enough to exist in a very pro-peace bubble, so I don’t face such consequences. But I have incredible respect for those who do so despite their circumstances. And it is people like you who have the greatest opportunity to change the course of things.
I appreciate you.
Good advice. Sometimes it’s hard to keep my frustration from overwhelming me when I see people saying such hateful things but it always helps to understand where people are coming from and respectfully point to the things that may challenge the foundation of that hate.
You’re not alone at all in that. Life in the Information Age is too good at teaching folks how to cope with frustration lol.
85% of Israelis want Netanyahu out. Protests in the tens of thousands in the streets of Israel.
I post this whenever I see someone say “fuck Israel.” I think they mean “fuck Netanyahu.”
Nah, fuck Israel. Israel was founded on ethnic cleansing and has continued the ethnic cleansing to this day. They won’t stop until Palestinians only exist as a people in exile.
Fuck America, too. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Veitnam, Iraq, Nicaragua, Guatamala, Indonesia, now Palestine. American democracy has run on blood since the slaughter of Native Americans in its infancy.
America was founded on genocide and slavery. The overwhelming majority of Americans are against both practices today.
England, Mongolian China, Rome, and Germany committed the same acts attempting world domination. Their populations are very different now.
A nation’s history does not define its current occupants.
Israel is doing it now. This isn’t history
If what Netanyahu was doing is what the Israeli people wanted, then he would have their support.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/only-15-israelis-want-netanyahu-keep-job-after-gaza-war-poll-finds-2024-01-02/
No, they mean fuck Israel. It can only exist as a Jewish state because all non-Jews have been stripped of their rights. Make it a secular state with equal rights for everyone, or allow the Palestinians their own state with no Israeli occupation. The current situation is straight up apartheid
Do you mean previous nationality? All Israeli citizens are granted the same rights under Israeli Citizenship Law.
Israeli’s Supreme Court ruled that Israeli nationality is not a thing. Israel is a Jewish state since 2018, and Israeli Arabs are second class citizens.
This link was one of the sources from yours: https://www.vox.com/world/2018/7/31/17623978/israel-jewish-nation-state-law-bill-explained-apartheid-netanyahu-democracy
If only Jewish people have the right to self-determination, then all Israeli citizens do not have the same rights.
You’re misunderstanding the conversation.
The comment I responded to said “they were stripped of their rights.” That’s simply not true. It is true that they are stripped of their nationality, and in that, I agree with you that the rights are not the same.
Israeli citizens have the same state rights in regards to government voting and state services.
You’re basically saying “those aren’t the rights I was talking about”.
They do not have the right to self-determination since 2018, thus they do not have the same rights. Several of the rights of non-Jews were stripped away with the 2018 law. Not all of them, but some very significant ones.
They have similar rights, and share many of the same rights, but Jewish people have more rights than non-Jews in Israel. Not just in practice, but per the law.
No, I’m saying the comment that claimed they are “stripped of their rights” is false. You’ve cited a difference in the law that I recognize, and disagree with. There are no limitations in their participation in government or government services. If there were, I’d agree their rights were “stripped.”
There’s imbalance for sure. Being accurate allows people to recognize the problems and address them. Being sensational creates ignorance.
They weren’t protesting the treatment of Palestinians:
Are you sure about that? 21% of Israelis are Palestinian.
This is why I always try to specify Likud.
He’s even lost half of their support according to the last November’s poll. Not to mention they only have 23% of the popular support now. It’s dwindled in the last decade.