Ohio State University suspends students over pro-Palestinian rally
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The students organized a demonstration on campus grounds titled “Intifada, Revolution, and the Path for a Free Palestine.”
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A sign for Ohio State University stands in Columbus, Ohio, on May 8, 2019. (AP)
A student group of the leftist organization Central Ohio Revolutionary Socialists (CORS) was suspended by the Ohio State University administration following a pro-Palestinian demonstration they organized on campus grounds, titled “Intifada, Revolution, and the Path for a Free Palestine.”
The group's purpose was to educate students on the crimes "Israel" has been committing in the Gaza Strip over the past three months, a genocide that was widely condemned by trusted international organizations.
The university's response was the suspension of all members partaking in the activity, "justified" through a letter sent to the student body on the 13th of December claiming that CORS’ “activities pose a significant risk of substantial harm to the safety or security of your organization’s members, other members of the university community or to university property.”
In the shadow of Ohio State's decisive action, a petition was framed to reinstate CORS, demanding the following:
1. Immediately reinstate Central Ohio Revolutionary Socialists and drop the allegations and sanctions against them.
2. Defend the right to free speech about Palestine in this period when McCarthyist-style attacks are taking place with unprecedented frequency.
3. Stand against attacks on individuals or organizations advocating for Palestine, whether in the form of smear campaigns conducted by outside groups (like the one that led to the suspension of CORS) or by authorities (such as attempts to clamp down on Palestine organizing by the state or federal government).
Read more: Pro-Palestine students, academics being threatened in US
Freedom of Speech: Palestine is the only exception
Pro-Palestinian movements have been increasingly hindered and shut down, despite maintaining a peaceful, more informative facet, particularly on school grounds that are notorious for their promotion of freedom of speech and opinion.
In October, US officials launched a collective online attack on Harvard alumni who have explicitly condemned the Israeli occupation for war crimes in Gaza.
A student statement from Harvard University blaming "Israel" for the attacks on Gaza was criticized and Harvard was simultaneously called out by some of its most prominent political alumni for not condemning the statement.
Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard president and longtime Washington economic policy hand, wrote on X: “The silence from Harvard’s leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups’ statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel."
The Democrat who served as Treasury Secretary under former President Bill Clinton added: “I am sickened. I cannot fathom the administration’s failure to disassociate the university and condemn this statement.”
The mostly Republican figures who graduated from Harvard called out their alma mater for not siding with "Israel".
“What the hell is wrong with Harvard?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who attended Harvard Law School, posted on X.
The New York Post later stated that a "doxxing truck" was circling Harvard University’s campus to expose students who allegedly signed a letter blaming "Israel" for the atrocities on Gaza, and the truck had been displaying students' pictures and standing outside their homes.
