Those participating in the protests have learned a few new chants since the October 7 invasion by Hamas in the Gaza area. Shouts of "Free, free Palestine! Free, free Palestine!" and accusations demanding a "cleansing" of Jews from Israel are not uncommon on college campuses like NYU and UC-Berkeley. So much so that, in fact, some Jewish students admit they are scared to attend class.
While some argue the protesters are calling for a peaceful end to the war and a two-state solution for Israel, Dr. Michael Brown (right) – host of the Line of Fire radio program – says it's much more sinister.
"As they chant, 'From the river to the sea, Palestine must be free!' or 'Free Palestine!' or when they speak about the Israeli 'occupation' since 1947 and 1948, what they're saying is no more Israel," says the Messianic Jew.
Sometimes they're even explicit about it, as one protestor argued: "Israel has to get out of Palestine and they leave the whole land to Palestine people. Not only Gaza, all Palestine. They have to leave Palestine."
Brown notes this is not a political quarrel; in fact, he describes it as rank anti-Semitic racism.
"It's not just the Israelis, it's the Jews," he tells AFN. "Hamas, early on, called for an International Day of Rage Against the Jews, and that word 'clean' or' cleanse – that's likening the Jews to some type of parasite."
According to Brown, the war has merely exposed the racism that was already a part of the Left's DNA. "There's been a growing anti-Semitism on many college campuses for quite a few years now, so this is nothing new. It's just coming to the surface," he laments.
