Video of incendiary comments by one of the leaders of the student protest encampment at Columbia University surfaced online Thursday evening, forcing the school to again confront an issue at the core of the conflict rippling across campuses nationwide: the tension between pro-Palestinian activism and antisemitism.

The student, Khymani James, said in the January video that “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and “Be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”

Mr. James made the comments during and after a disciplinary hearing with Columbia administrators that he recorded and then posted on Instagram.

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  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    It’s not a fine line at all. And I say that as a Jew.

    Most Zionists are Christians because they need the temple rebuilt and all the Jews to return to Israel to fulfill prophecy and have Jesus return.

    That said, what this person did say is entirely unacceptable. Especially the part where they say that we should be grateful they’re not murdering people. Sorry, I’m not going to thank you for not committing murder.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Agreed. Generally speaking, extremists fuel anti-protest propaganda. They’re a cancer to any cause. Protest loud and clear, but violence is always discrediting.