Anti-Israel radical at Columbia University event ‘Nothing wrong with being a Hamas fighter’

[Social Media]

Anti-Israel radical launched 2-hour tirade at Columbia University event weeks before protests exploded: ‘Nothing wrong with being a Hamas fighter’

 

Radical anti-Israel sentiments ignited a firestorm of debate and condemnation on campus. The focal point of this controversy was a two-hour lecture delivered by Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator of Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, weeks before pro-Palestinian protests erupted across the campus.

 

 

Kates's impassioned speech, delivered to a select group of anti-Israel activists at Columbia and its sister college, Barnard, shocked many with its unabashed support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization responsible for countless atrocities, including the mass murder of innocent civilians. "There is nothing wrong with being a fighter in Hamas," declared Kates, unequivocally endorsing a group infamous for its violence and brutality.

 

 

The seminar, titled "Resistance 101," provided a platform for Kates and her husband, Khaled Barakat, to propagate their extremist views. Barakat, a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), another designated terrorist organization, echoed Kates's sentiments, hailing the attendees as frontline defenders of Palestine's liberation.

 

 

However, behind the veneer of activism and resistance lies a disturbing reality. The PFLP, like Hamas, has been implicated in numerous terrorist attacks targeting civilians, including the 2014 assault on a Jerusalem synagogue that claimed the lives of four innocent people. Despite their claims of fighting for justice, both Kates and Barakat conveniently omit the egregious human rights abuses committed by these extremist groups, including their persecution of LGBT Palestinians and extrajudicial killings.

 

 

Moreover, Barakat's history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to violence further underscores the dangerous nature of his ideology. His comparison of Israelis to Nazis and subsequent ban from entering Germany due to his hate speech serve as chilling reminders of the insidious nature of extremism.

 

The event's organizers, the Columbia University Apartheid Divest Group, have come under scrutiny for providing a platform to individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations. While not officially recognized by the university, this student-led organization has faced criticism for its role in perpetuating extremist propaganda on campus.

 

In the wake of the seminar, tensions reached a boiling point as pro-Palestinian protests engulfed the campus, leaving Jewish students feeling marginalized and unsafe. The involvement of prominent activists like Nerdeen Kiswani, known for her vocal support of Hamas, only added fuel to the fire, further polarizing an already divided community.

 

Amidst the uproar, several students involved in organizing the event faced disciplinary action from the university. While some have been suspended, others remain defiant, vowing to continue their fight for Palestine despite the consequences.

 

The fallout from this controversy extends beyond the confines of Columbia University, highlighting broader issues of free speech, academic freedom, and the rise of extremism on college campuses. As universities grapple with the challenge of balancing ideological diversity with ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students, the events at Columbia serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by radical ideologies and the imperative of fostering constructive dialogue and understanding in our communities.

 

2024-04-25

Source

 

[JonnyF]

No surprise.

 

Universities are full of these types of leftist loons, trying to corrupt young, impressionable students. I wonder if these "places of learning" should start carrying health warnings. 

[Emdog]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

No surprise.

 

Universities are full of these types of leftist loons, trying to corrupt young, impressionable students. I wonder if these "places of learning" should start carrying health warnings. 

I would suggest removing "leftist" from "loons". The Islamic hard core states, like Afghanistan, are anything but liberal or leftist. ISIS, Hamas, etc are all hard core authoritarian rulers much closer to Orban, Trump, Putin than any liberal belief of any sort

[John Drake]

This is why these terrorist supporters need to go on the No Fly List. They are a threat to public safety.

[Hanaguma]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

This is why these terrorist supporters need to go on the No Fly List. They are a threat to public safety.

I disagree. Put them on the "One Way FLy" list. Let him go to Gaza and see if he really packs the stones to match his big mouth.  Chances are he would wet himself the first time he heard a shot fired in anger.

[Chomper Higgot]

More reporting on this here:

 

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/04/17/universitys-treatment-of-student-sponsored-speakers-sparks-debate-on-free-speech-principles/

[Bkk Brian]

Quote

Kates and Barakat represented themselves as speaking on behalf of Samidoun, the “Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network,” at the meeting.

In reality, Barakat is a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is a designated terrorist organization responsible for a string of attacks on Israeli civilians and closely allied to both Hamas and Hezbollah.

So they had actual members of terrorist orgs speaking to the students, indoctrinating them and then wonder why there are these protests. Jeez

[JonnyF]

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

I would suggest removing "leftist" from "loons". The Islamic hard core states, like Afghanistan, are anything but liberal or leftist. ISIS, Hamas, etc are all hard core authoritarian rulers much closer to Orban, Trump, Putin than any liberal belief of any sort

 

There is some truth to that.

 

Which makes you wonder why leftist loons like Corbyn consider Hamas to be his friends. The two groups are certainly curious bedfellows, but bedfellows nonetheless. Perhaps it is their hatred of Jews that unites them? Or perhaps the left support intolerance in the name of diversity?

[Chomper Higgot]

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

There is some truth to that.

 

Which makes you wonder why leftist loons like Corbyn consider Hamas to be his friends. The two groups are certainly curious bedfellows, but bedfellows nonetheless. Perhaps it is their hatred of Jews that unites them? Or perhaps the left support intolerance in the name of diversity?

How did Corbyn get into this thread?

 

Oh you broke the glass on the emergency call point  ‘If all else fails mention Corbyn’

 

I’m not sure he’s ever been to the U.S., much less to any of the Universities there.