SJP- Students for Justice in Palestine or Systematic Jewish Persecution?

{Originally posted to the website, The Jewish Chick}

SJP’s Mission

Let’s delve into Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) – what exactly is their mission? Per their national website, SJP’s #1 unity goal is “ending Israel’s occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall”. In laments terms, SJP wants Israel removed/to diseapear/be destroyed (you can chose which one sounds the nicest). SJP also states it “stands against … antisemitism…”. So if you’re a Jew outside of Israel, you’re cool. If not, they want you gone. As in removed, to disappear, be destroyed (again, you can chose which one sounds the nicest).

SJP’s Founder

In 2001, Hatem Bazian founded Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of Berkeley. Bazian was born in Nablus, went to high school in Amman, Jordan and came to the U.S. to attend San Francisco State University. He finished a double major in International Relations and Speech/Communication at San Francisco State University, where he also completed an M.A. in International Relations. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. in Philosophy and Islamic Studies from UC Berkeley in 2002.

Here are some of the hateful, antisemitic comments that often incite calls for violence Bazian has made (can be seen here):

“Some say our Congress is the best money can buy. But we also say our Congress is an Israeli occupied territory.” “There are a large number of Zionists who were engaged with Nazi Germany” “The only language the slave master understands is the language of violence” “How come we don’t have an intifada in this country?”

SJP’s Members

Let’s look further into some of SJP’s members across the country. Comments such as the ones below have been documented and are of great concern, specifically for an organization that claims it “stands against antisemitism”.

“Lol let’s stuff some Jews in the oven” – Mariam Ghanem “We need to put zionists in concentration camps Now that would be a life experience for them” – Halima Eid “#top10thingsIhate school, socializing, white people, homework, ratchet bitches, history, liars, being fat, compliments, Jews”- Ayah Aly “hitler should have took you all”- Nadera Masad

SJP’s Annual Conferences

In 2012,  SJP invited Islamic Jihad terrorist Khader Adnan to headline an SJP-sponsored event at American University. Adnan, who was at one point the official spokesman for Islamic Jihad, is a supporter of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks on civilians.

During its 2016 conference at George Mason University, SJP sold apparel with the images of a rifle-bearing Leila Khaled — a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the first woman to hijack an airplane — alongside the caption, “Resistance is not terrorism.”

SJP’s annual conference was held at UCLA on November 16-18th, 2018. After immediate outcry from the World Jewish Congress and other prominent Jewish organizations, a spokesperson for UCLA told The Algemeiner that it “is bound by the First Amendment, which protects everyone’s right to express their ideas, even those that are controversial or unpopular.”

Although UCLA proceeded with hosting the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) national conference, Stopantisemitism.org movement vows further action to hold the university accountable and announces the establishment of the Center for Combating Hate in America.