Kira Flowers is a Jewish student at UO who said graffiti saying "F--- Zionists" appeared on a brick wall on campus the same day as the camp

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Home / Jewish Students at Oregon University Endure Antisemitic Harassment Amidst Enduring Pro-Hamas Encampments

Jewish Students at Oregon University Endure Antisemitic Harassment Amidst Enduring Pro-Hamas Encampments

May 6, 2024

Students camped out on the University of Oregon campus to protest the war in Gaza and the university’s financial ties to Israel say they got a document from university officials threatening consequences if the protest continues.

According to protestors, UO officials sent a document declining protestors’ demands and threatening to revoke academic amnesty for all protestors at noon on May 7, the latest development in a week-long protest at the university. Protestors who continue to remain at the encampment would face UO conduct code violation charges. Protestors said they are planning a “Defend the Camp” rally for 10:30 a.m. on May 7.

This development comes as Jewish students speak out about how the encampment and protest makes them feel uncomfortable at their own university.

Kira Flowers is a Jewish student at UO. She said graffiti saying “F— Zionists” appeared on a brick wall on campus the same day as the camp. She immediately grabbed a brush from a janitor’s cart and began cleaning it off, but said people passing by were yelling things like “F— you” and “F— Israel”.

“Which was crazy because like, I hadn’t expected that level of hostility cleaning up, like, hate speech,” Flowers said. “I mean, I don’t– it didn’t say our– we didn’t proclaim our stance on any issue. We were just cleaning up this vandalism that made us uncomfortable. And people took real offense to that.”

After being yelled at earlier, she was worried about what could happen at the camp.

“I get what the protestors want,” she said. “I just feel like if they approached this issue in a different way they’d have like everybody on their side. I feel like there’d be– they’d have more support, or people might be less scared to walk by the encampment.”

When asked about how Jewish students are feeling, protestors in the camp did not want to go on camera or give their names. One offered a statement saying one of the original demands was that the university formally protect Jewish students, as well as Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. The statement went on to say the Jewish Voices for Peace student group is one of the groups that helped put the camp together, and they have been doing Jewish services and education, and are not trying to make anyone uncomfortable.

Flowers said while she has not been personally threatened or violently attacked, the tone on campus since the camp started has been leaving her and other Jewish students on edge. Even if the camp is limited to one part of campus, Flowers said its effects are felt everywhere.

“I live this every day, like this is my– this is my entire life,” she said. “I literally am on campus 24-7. I live in Bean, like, there is– there is no escaping this encampment if you are on campus. And I don’t think people realize that.”

Even though she is feeling on edge, Flowers said she has decided to go into the camp and have conversations about the issue, something she said is important.

“Jews have a ton of different opinions on the issue. And I want people to know just because I am a– just because I believe in the right for Jews to exist as a state in the state of Israel doesn’t mean I don’t support Palestinian liberation.”

But Flowers said the camp does not need to be there in order to spark conversation.

“Since the war between Israel and Hamas started I feel like I’ve been having these conversations pretty often,” she said. “And I feel like the encampment kind of makes other Jewish students more scared to have conversations with people who aren’t other Jewish students.”

Even though the camp was still up while violating policy, Flowers said she thinks the university has done what it can.

“I get why they haven’t made any big moves on this honestly. Like I feel like it could just cause more hostility if they try to forcibly remove students. I’ve seen what’s happened on other campuses. And I honestly don’t want my fellow students to, like, get in trouble for this.”

Stick with KEZI 9 News for more information as the situation develops, with protestors set to hold a rally in the morning of May 7.

https://www.kezi.com/news/jewish-students-speak-out-about-protest-at-university-of-oregon-campus/article_a0e17710-0c0d-11ef-897a-530ccc34c080.html

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