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UC Berkeley Students Use Tunnels to Evacuate During IDF Soldier’s Address

  • Posted byby Gary Garcia
  • Updated

The recent turmoil at UC Berkeley, where Jewish students were forced to leave because of disruptive pro-Palestinian protesters, underscores the ongoing tension and challenges related to freedom of speech on college campuses.

Event Disruption and Protester Actions

A scheduled talk titled “Israel at War: Combat the Lies” at Zellerbach Playhouse was abruptly interrupted when a large group of protesters stormed the venue. They chanted “Long live the Intifada!” and shattered glass doors, creating a chaotic environment. Additional footage shared on social media showed some anti-Israel protesters infiltrating the venue before the event started. One protester, wearing a keffiyeh, told a student to leave, to which the student responded that it was a private event and that they were unwelcome. The student further compared the protesters’ actions to those of Nazis and urged them to stop harassing Jewish students.

Protesters’ Messages and Actions

Other video clips depicted protesters banging on glass doors outside the building while holding signs that read “Students Against Zionism,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Long Live the Intifada!” Protesters were also seen breaking glass doors and attempting to flee to avoid accountability. One protester yelled, “You got what you deserve!” as chants of “Long live the Intifada!” resumed. Another protester spoke about ancestors and bloodshed, criticizing attendees for their perceived inaction.

Ran Bar-Yoshafat’s Perspective

Ran Bar-Yoshafat, the speaker at the disrupted event, told Daily Wire that the issue transcended IDF, Jews, or Israel. He argued that it was more about the protesters’ disregard for Western values such as freedom of speech. Due to security concerns, the event’s location had been changed multiple times, and Bar-Yoshafat had to arrive on campus in disguise. He described entering a room with around 40 student protesters inside and hundreds more outside. Bar-Yoshafat expressed sympathy for the frightened students and criticized UC Berkeley for not providing adequate security and allowing such disruptions during a peaceful speaking event. Ultimately, the engagement had to be relocated off-campus to a secret location.

Reactions from UC Berkeley Hillel

The Hillel chapter at UC Berkeley released a statement expressing their horror and sadness over the incident. They condemned acts of intimidation and violence against Jewish and Israeli students. Reflecting on UC Berkeley’s historical significance as the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement in 1964, which advocated for tolerance towards any political speech on campus, it is ironic that modern-day activists seem to oppose free speech.

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