Jewish Students Safe at UCI

IRVINE - Jewish student leaders at UCI took the unusual step this week of issuing a press release saying Jewish student life is thriving there, and no one is in danger from anti-Semitism on campus.

The move comes in the wake of assertions from outside groups that UC Irvine is so rife with anti-Semitism that it's become an unsafe place for Jewish students.

Tensions between fervent Jewish and Muslim students on campus, primarily over the Israeli government's relationship with the Palestinians, have spilled over into the international blogosphere and even been investigated by the federal government.

"There's been a lot of misinformation put out about what's going on at our school," said UCI student Isaac Yerushalmi, 21, president of Anteaters for Israel. "Unfortunately, there are organizations out there that are very passionate and concerned, but they don't really know what's going on."

The press release was issued by the presidents of four Jewish student organizations on campus, including Anteaters for Israel; Hillel: The Jewish Student Union; Alpha Epsilon Pi and Epsilon Pi fraternities.

"Jewish students are physically safe and secure on our campus … (and) Jewish life is thriving more than ever," the release states.

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If you're unfamiliar with the background, check out Muslamics' earlier post on this.

I would love to have seen the face of the ZOA people when the read the press release! I have to respect the UCI Jewish student organizations for stepping out of ZOA's cloak and speaking for themselves. If only they would seperate between Judaism and Zionism - but that's a whole other discussion.

LA Protest Condemning Gaza Holocaust

Photos courtesy of Br. Omar Zarka

A little over a year and a half ago, I remember being at this exact same place protesting along with a hundred other people the Israeli massacres in Lebanon (during the July 2006 war). Last Friday, it was a protest against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. What next?

Overall, it's great that so many people came out.

If you were at the protest, please share your comments and thoughts. How did you think the protest want? How was it like to be there? What could be done different next time? What else can be done to help our brothers and sisters in Gaza (and elsewhere)?

UCI Exonerated of "Anti-Semitism" Label

So your kids can go to UCI and feel safe that the label of "America's Most Anti-Semitic Campus" is not applicable- here at MSNBC and OC Register has a copy of the OCR letter issued today.

There was a email circulating with the letter of the report from OCR stating that simply, the University has done a great job at maintaining an environment welcoming to all. That they have done what they could faced with incidents that were negative and wrong.

Whats more is that this has shown that the MSU at UCI has been exonerated and is within its right to free speech.

This leads one to wonder what the "hell Zionist Organization of America" wanted out of this whole thing. They referred callers to their East coast office which was closed today- no wonder- the report makes them look like fools yelling fire in a crowded theater.

Basically the Zionist Organization of America is a trying to paint a picture of something that just isn't- that UCI is a breeding haven for antisemitism- and if this tactic worked, it would force the University to shut down events aimed at the policies and practices of Israel and criticism of Zionism, because of the "Jewish" association of the two topics. Hence, college activism against Israel and Zionism would come to a complete full stop- which is what the ZOA ultimately wants.

Now, thats what the ZOA wants, what about Chuck Devore? The Irvine Assembly member- who is probably a nutcase in his own way, but seriously he is the elected official for Irvine, they couldnt elect some one who was half decent and at most neutral, next thing you know Devore will be coming out and saying- "there's to many Moslem's in Irvine"- many of the UCI Muslims are from Irvine, Chuck, I dont think they will be contributing to your campaign or voting for you when they are doctors, rich engineers, business owners etc.

Pipin' Away

Daniel Pipes once again visited the University of California Irvine campus this past Thursday, after an all-too-brief hiatus. His lecture, entitled "Militant Islam and the West," drew a sympathetic crowd that numbered about fifty, as well as over a hundred protesters.

Daniel Pipes is well known for his hateful message, and is widely considered the premier Islamophobe in the country. An excerpt of the question and answer session from his lecture, where the Muslim Student Union's Spokeswoman Mariam Moustafa challenged him, clearly evidences this:

Mariam: What if Muslims do not accept your modernized versions of Islam?

Pipes: The war goes on.

Mariam: For how long?

Pipes: Until they do. We are fighting a defensive war…Which is worse, being attacked by terrorists, or being afraid of being perceived as a terrorist?

Mariam: So because I’m a Muslim, people should be afraid of me?

Pipes: I’m afraid so. [Applause]

(actual transcript from a reporter)

More information about Daniel Pipes can be found here. Alkalima Newsmagazine has created a professional pamphelet that can be downloaded and printed, for use if Pipes is invited to speak on your campus.

You can check out video of the silent walkout here.

To see video of how the Muslim students were then followed and harassed by a Red County blogger, see here.

Over a hundred UCI students, wearing tape across their mouths that said things like "Islamophobia" and "Racism", silently walked out of the Pipes' lecture once he began railing against domestic terrorism and accused students of being terrorists.

The Muslim Student Union released a press statement several hours before the event on their website, condemning Pipes' hateful message. They have also uploaded a video statement. Feedback is always welcome.

The Daily Pilot covered the event with an article entitled "Protesters Turn Silent" and local elected official Chuck DeVore blogged about it.

Overall, I think it is important to note that Daniel Pipes has very little support - as evidenced by the lack of turnout to his lecture. The type of propoganda he preaches, which attempts to paint all Muslims as extremists out to kill, is simply not accepted as truthful. It's also interesting to see how student activism evolves on campuses across America.

UCI Student Threatened by FBI

UCI economics student Yasser Ahmed said he was driving a borrowed truck up onto the Ring Road near the library loading dock Monday night, on intending to haul away the wall, when he noticed a silver Ford Taurus with blackened windows following him.

Ahmed said he stopped the truck in view of other campus observers and stood in front of the Taurus, trying to look through the blackened windshield and asking the driver to identify himself. When he would not speak, Ahmed said he tried to take a photo of the car's license plate with his camera phone.

"He could have just rolled down his window and said, 'I'm an FBI agent,' and that would have been the end of it," Ahmed said. "There was nothing improper going on."

Instead, according to Ahmed, the driver revved his engine threateningly and began pushing him backward with the car's front bumper. Ahmed said he then began calling for help, and dozens of other students ran over to assist.

"I was frightened," Ahmed said. "I felt I could have been killed or seriously injured if I hadn't jumped out of the way."

Sociology student Marya Bangee, a member of the Muslim Student Union, said the incident was frightening.

"The car was revving its engine to look as intimidating as possible," Bangee said. "I thought it was going to come and hit the (mock Palestine) wall."

Eventually, the car roared off, according to witnesses, chased by students on bicycles and a campus police car. Later, Ahmed said a police officer told him that the car had "cold" license plates, meaning they could not be checked through normal computers.

The next morning, Ahmed said, he went to the campus police station and was told by the police chief that the man in the car was an FBI agent.

Read on at OC Register: FBI Actions Questioned at UCI