OPINION: It’s time to stand against the glorification of terror on campus

Echoed in the chants of protesters, amplified on social media, and reinforced in lecture halls, the denial of Jewish pain has become all too familiar in university discourse.

Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Southern Israel, a day of immense suffering and trauma for the Jewish people. Yet, instead of sharing in our mourning, a series of student protests chose to celebrate and justify October 7th as a so-called day of “resistance”. The brutal murder of over 1200 people, and the inhumane conditions endured by those still held hostage, is not, and never will be, an act of resistance .

Whilst we respect the right to protest, violent rhetoric must never be enabled on campus. As social media posts honoured the “beloved resistance” of the “glorious Al Aqsa Flood”, Hamas’ own name for the 7 October  attacks, one protest placard declared, “Resistance is the answer.” Two Jewish students walking back from Synagogue, wearing kippot, had the words ‘Free Palestine!’ shouted directly at them. One protestor, betraying the feelings of many, told a reporter that Jewish student pain was “not valid”. Jewish students deserve at least one day in the calendar year to grieve a moment still so raw, a loss still so deeply felt.

But this atmosphere is not new. Just last year, as one society hosted a vigil to commemorate those we have lost, counter-protestors encircled them to the point where they no longer felt safe. Student groups around the country have posted stories commemorating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, writing that in “Glorious October”, he had “launched the Flood on the 7th”. When a Jewish student was identified as a Zionist on a freshers’ WhatsApp group, someone sent them a death threat with another student chiming in to support. In a lecture theatre, a whiteboard displayed the message “is Hamas a terrorist organization??? Or are they fighting the terrorists????”. The list goes on, making it no surprise that this type of rhetoric has been normalised for Jewish students up and down the country.

For two years, the Union of Jewish Students has been reminding institutions that the glorification of terror is a threat to campus safety, community cohesion, and the values universities claim to uphold. This week, we have launched our ‘Stand Against Terror’ campaign to actively condemn this dangerous trend, demanding immediate, impactful action from university leaders, campus security, and the Government.

Universities must uphold their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. This includes ensuring that university staff, student union officers, and society leaders undertake the Tackling Antisemitism in Education training developed by the Union of Jewish Students and funded by the Department for Education, and that they meet regularly with Jewish students to foster trust and accountability.

The Government, in turn, must clarify that free speech does not permit hate crime or terror glorification. Through regular conversations with UJS and other key stakeholders, the Government must develop an enforceable plan to combat extremist language on campus, to ensure Jewish students don’t just feel protected, but are.

This cannot mean words of reassurance alone, but visible, tangible efforts to prove that universities are addressing these concerns with the utmost urgency and seriousness.

This conversation could not be more pertinent at a time of increased anguish for the UK Jewish community. The horrific terror attack on Yom Kippur at Heaton Park Synagogue was a disturbing reminder that violent language can, and does, lead to violent acts.

Jewish students will not stop building vibrant communities on campus to celebrate their proud Jewish identities. It is deeply troubling that I must focus on the level of hate emboldened on university campuses, at a time when the Union of Jewish Students is hosting our largest, most exciting events to date. However, now more than ever, we must stand against the glorification of terror and amplify the voices of Jewish students shouting, loud and clear, that enough is enough.

Samantha Cass is UJS’s head of campaigns