This campaign is the latest chapter in a two-year wave of antisemitism that has led to the ostracization of Jewish and Israeli students, the demonization of Israel and Zionism, and the spread of harmful disinformation. It takes place during one of the holiest times in the Jewish calendar and on the week marking the second anniversary of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023 — the day that Hamas terrorists murdered, raped, tortured, burned alive, and kidnapped innocent civilians, including babies, the elderly, and entire families. 

 

Importantly, this date does not mark the start of Israel’s defensive response, but rather the moment the world witnessed the worst antisemitic violence since the Holocaust. Choosing this date for a “Week of Rage” makes the intent of the organizers abundantly clear: they are not trying to promote peace, justice, or human rights. Their goal is to glorify terror, flood campuses with misinformation, and prevent Jewish and Israeli students from mourning and commemorating the victims of that horrific day.

StandWithUs is aware that on some campuses, administrators have restricted all events related to 10/7. While their intention may be to prevent anti-Israel disruptions and campus division, the impact of such policies is to stop Jewish and Israeli students from mourning, commemorating, and raising awareness about the victims of October 7. Meanwhile, anti-Israel groups continue to defy university policies by staging unauthorized protests and spreading hate. This double standard, even if unintentional, punishes those seeking to grieve and remember, while rewarding those who sow fear and hostility.

 

StandWithUs unequivocally supports freedom of expression. It is for that reason that our community must act as moral leaders by using our freedoms to reject and challenge campaigns that promote hate, discrimination, and violence, and that glorify acts of terror. At the same time, universities must enforce their own policies and codes of conduct to ensure that all students—regardless of religion, ethnicity, or national origin—are guaranteed a safe and inclusive learning environment.

 

To Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist students, faculty, and community members who are feeling isolated or afraid during this painful week: you are not alone. 

 

We see you. We stand with you. And we are here to support you with resources, programming, and legal assistance wherever needed. We hope that Sukkot will serve as a reminder of our enduring strength, faith, and unity in the face of adversity—values that have endured for 3,000 years and will continue to endure far beyond these campaigns of hate.

 

StandWithUs is committed to empowering and defending our students through legal action, educational initiatives, advocacy training, and partnerships with allies on campus and beyond. If you need help, reach out to campus@standwithus.com or legal@standwithus.com, and visit standwithus.com for additional resources and upcoming support programs.

 

We will not allow bad actors to define this moment or dictate our actions. We will remember, we will mourn, and we will continue to stand strong for truth, justice, and peace.

 

Finally, we call on all people of conscience to use their voices and influence to bring about true peace: by demanding that Hamas release all hostages immediately, accept the full conditions of the U.S. peace plan, lay down its arms, and abandon its genocidal aims.

Am Yisrael Chai.