Protests against rape by Hamas terrorists on October 7 at UCSD

By Marsha Sutton
San Diego Times

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Amid pro-Palestine camps at many universities, Jewish students at UC San Diego demonstrated Wednesday to draw attention to the atrocities committed by Hamas against women and girls in Israel on Oct. 7.

The demonstration, organized by the San Diego Jewish student group Hillel, was part of UCSD’s Week of Peace in Israel, which runs May 13-17.

As several dozen students and supporters marched down the campus library path to the Geisel Library, a sign read: “Imagine people calling your rapist a freedom fighter.”

A dozen women took part in the march, their faces covered and tied with a rope with red paint in the genital area of ​​their clothing to symbolize the sexual atrocities committed by Hamas.

As they crossed Library Walk and passed a row of fraternity and sorority tables, where the lively cacophony had nothing to do with Israel’s Week of Peace, the loud groups fell silent.

Protesters stood silently in front of the Geisel Library, holding signs indicating the identities of the women killed, mutilated or captured.

As they stood in silence as other students watched, a person who said he was a UCSD student began circling the group repeatedly with his cellphone, apparently recording it.

A Hillel security guard blocked him from approaching the protesters.

He continued circling several dozen times. Before he left, I asked him why he was circling and recording.

“Zionists came here (sic) and made a lot of Muslims uncomfortable,” he told me, suggesting that his intention was to convey the same message to them by recording them on his phone.

He declined to be named but said he was exercising his constitutional right to record the demonstration.

There was a significant police presence on campus, but no confrontations occurred.

Karen Parry, executive director of Hillel San Diego, said she was proud of the school’s Jewish students, some of whom sat in the front row of protesters, and said how brave they were to come to campus every day and face backlash deliver.

“All students, including Jewish students, have the right to experience a campus free from intimidation and harassment,” she said in a statement.

“Combating atrocities against Israeli women on October 7th” was the headline of the demonstration. According to Hillel, the purpose was to “shine a light on the grave injustices faced by Israeli women on October 7” and “to focus on those who were abused, raped and kidnapped, as well as the fate of those who are still being held hostage.”

“We come together to bring to light these horrific videos by Hamas and demand action and support for the victims.”

“Together we are committed to justice, support and the dignity of all women.”

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Marsha Sutton is a freelance writer covering education. This article was republished by San Diego Timeswith which Jewish World in San Diego shares stories under the auspices of the San Diego Online News Association.