Five months ago, I sent the following message to the president of Students for Justice in Palestine, “Way to go! Just wanted to let you know that I stand with your position on Divestment 100 percent and your letter was way more articulate than the opposing letter. Yes, what’s happening in Israel right now stinks of the same inhumane racism and bigotry we’ve come to see from the Jim Crow laws and apartheid. If our campus wants to truly pride in diversity and equality, they would see that divestment is the first step towards equality and justice for all.”
Today, I stand here, as a former supporter of Divestment, to tell you, that I was wrong.
Five months ago, I blindly supported the BDS movement on our campus, I was one of them. I discussed my support of BDS on the radio, many of my friends were in SJP, and the many minority communities I was in, were fully invested in BDS. I even planned last summer to join the campaign against Israel. I was emblematic of many college students across the U.S, being anti-Israel in the name of social justice and equality.
Over the summer, a violent and hateful picture posted to the SJP page was brought to my attention. It was in response to our school’s decision to turn down Divestment and it stated “Ethnic Cleansing Starts Here” a mockery of our school motto and a sign of disrespect to our student body.
In the instant I saw the picture, I questioned it’s hateful motive, so as an opinion writer for the school paper, I set out to interview various Jewish students on campus to get their perspective on the issue. As students opened themselves up to me, I saw that they felt attacked, and isolated on a campus where they should feel safe. I knew in the testimonies I heard, that they felt voiceless.
I published the article, stating my change in stance regarding Divestment and condemned the organization for being hateful. I condemned them for reducing Israel to a caricature specific to their narrative. I condemned them for marginalizing students on our campus.
In just 2 days after publishing, I received over 30 messages, calling for my resignation from the paper, calling me a baby killer, a racist apartheid supporter, and other hateful slurs I can’t mention right now. I have been threatened on campus and off, online and offline and have lost friendships I valued in the process.
I’ve lost my sense of safety on our campus, but what I’ve lost in taking this important stance, I’ve gained in an amazing community through Stand With Us and other Israel advocates, not only within our campus but across the country.
Last month, I attended InFocus 2014, with fellow SDSU students and I was simply blown away by the united narrative we all share in fighting the bigotry and hatred of SJP and the BDS campaign. I connected with 175 student leaders from across North America and has seen the amazing work SWU has done. These were students, from different backgrounds, socio-economic statuses and points of views, however they were all united in their hopes for peace and their love for the state of Israel, as well as their dedication to make sure that Israel is properly represented on campuses. The most valuable thing that SWU has given these students is a community. Being there has made me realize how far I’d come, how far I have to go but also how strong this community is.
Five months ago, I was one of them.
Here today, I stand with you, I hope, as a sign that change does and can happen. It’s happened because of the brave Jewish students who shared their stories with me. It’s these stories that have changed me. As a Journalist who seeks to give a voice to the voiceless, there is nothing more powerful than the look in a person’s eyes when they are truly genuinely want peace and understanding.
It’s a look I see when I hear you all speak about Israel.
It’s a look that has no hate, but only a desire to change the world for the better.
It’s a look I hope you see in my eyes right now.