**”We’re Standing Up for American Values:** Rutgers University Students Counter Anti-Israel Protests with Patriotism**
In a spirited display of solidarity, students at Rutgers University came together to counter anti-Israel protests on campus by waving American flags and chanting “USA!”
A Campus Divided
Amidst the ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations on Voorhees Mall, a handful of patriotic students emerged to make their voices heard. “They were standing up for American values, despite all the conflicting chaos that’s been happening on campus recently,” said Jeremy Li, a Rutgers student actively involved in the counter-protests.
An Inspiration to Many
Li emphasized the importance of these demonstrations as “a movement that started at UNC that I think will hopefully move across the country.” The recent incident at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where students prevented an American flag from hitting the ground and sang the National Anthem, sparked a wave of similar actions on other college campuses.
Balancing Free Speech with Student Safety
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway acknowledged the complexities of balancing free speech and the need to maintain a safe environment for students. “It should not come at the cost of our students’ education and safety. We strive to balance these rights and maintain a safe and secure environment for our students to learn and succeed,” he stated.
A Unifying Symbol
“We’re seeing what happened at UNC being replicated here, and I think it’s a beautiful thing,” said Abbey, a Jewish student at Rutgers. “It’s not right for our large Jewish student community to feel unsafe while trying to take their finals.”
A Nationwide Movement
Li believes that these counter-demonstrations have the potential to gain momentum nationwide. “We’re standing up to this nonsense that pro-Hamas students are putting up,” he said. “We’ve seen them occupy buildings, destroy buildings, and vandalize things.”
A Call to Action
The patriotic actions of Rutgers students serve as a call to action for other students to speak out against divisive rhetoric and ensure that the values of liberty, equality, and respect prevail on their campuses. As Li aptly put it, “We’re showing that we will not stand for this anymore. We’re not going to be silenced.”
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
