Brandeis University is revoking recognition of the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), saying the group “openly supports Hamas”, JTA reports.
According to the report, Brandeis informed the student group on Monday about its decision, which means that the group will no longer receive university funding or be able to hold activities on campus. The group canceled a “Vigil for Palestine” that had been scheduled for Monday night as a result, JTA said.
“This decision was not made lightly, as Brandeis is dedicated to upholding free speech principles,” the university wrote in its letter.
SJP, which has a national umbrella group and campus chapters across the country, has spoken out in support of Hamas’ invasion of Israel. Brandeis said support for Hamas, which the United States has designated as a foreign terror group, is not protected by the university’s free speech principles.
“Students who choose to engage in conduct in support of Hamas, or engage in conduct that harasses or threatens violence, whether individually or through organized activity, will be considered to be in violation of the University’s student code of conduct,” the letter says, as quoted by JTA.
“Students who wish to express their support for the rights of Palestinian civilians may form another student organization, through established procedures, that complies with University policies,” it added.
With the move, Brandeis became the first private university to have banned SJP.
Jewish groups have pressured universities to withdraw funding for SJP in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, when the group described the attack as “a historic win for Palestinian resistance.”
Florida’s public university system banned SJP in late October following a directive by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Brandeis chapter of SJP called the university’s decision “racist” in a statement posted on Instagram.
“With heavy hearts, we would like to announce that our chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine has been unjustly de-charted,” the group wrote, as quoted by JTA. “This comes as a part of Brandeis University, an institution that values social justice, trying to silence us from speaking our truth.”
The Brandeis ban on SJP comes amid a sharp uptick in antisemitic incidents on US campuses in wake of the Israel-Hamas war.
At Cornell University, a professor said he was “exhilarated” by Hamas’ attack on Israel, and declared that “Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence”. The professor, Russell Rickford, later apologized.
Also at Cornell, a student was criminally charged after allegedly making threats of a mass shooting and antisemitic violence.
In another incident, Jewish students at Cooper Union College in New York City were forced to lock themselves inside the library as a mob of anti-Israeli protesters blocked the doors.
About 40 minutes later, security escorted the students out of the building via a tunnel.
The US Senate recently unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution denouncing antisemitism at higher education institutions and pushing leaders, administrators and faculty to voice their opposition to antisemitism on campus.
Late last week, the House of Representatives approved a resolution condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations at higher education institutions.