France: Prisoner Escape: Two Guards Killed, Three Wounded

Mohamed Amra

-LBC (UK)

Once again, France is reeling. Today, a prisoner named Mohamed Amra was being transported from court to prison in a police van in northern France when the van was attacked at a toll booth by several masked men dressed in black combat fatigues. When it was over,  two guards were dead, three wounded, and the prisoner escaped. Now a massive manhunt is underway in the country.

The below article from today's Le Figaro, is translated by Fousesquawk. The entire incident was captured on security cameras and is contained in the same article (with no sound). As is their custom, many French news outlets are identifying the escapee only as Mohamed A. CNN, meanwhile, is consciously omitting his name entirely. I guess even prison escapees are entitled to their privacy. (The link was subsequently updated to include his name.)

In the interest of time, I am posting the first couple of paragraphs of the Le Figaro article, and will complete it later in the day. As this is still breaking news, the article is being updated by Le Figaro.

https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/eure-au-moins-deux-agents-tues-lors-du-braquage-d-un-fourgon-penitentiaire-20240514

Prison van attacked in Eure: What we know about the deadly attack

By Esther Paolini

Posted 7 hours ago. Updated 5 minutes ago

The attacked van was transporting Mohamed Amra, nickname, "The Fly", a criminal who was closely guarded, most notably convicted of "attempted homicide". A manhunt is in progress to find him.

A major manhunt is in progress to locate several fugitives including Mohamed Amra, a particularly dangerous prisoner, who escaped in the fatal attack on the prison van which was transporting him near Évreux in Normandy.

At this stage, the attack, carried out with heavy weapons has left at least two dead among the corrections officers, according to a statement from the judicial tribunal in Paris. According to our information, the officers, one born in 1989 and the other in 1972, were working in the court transport center in Caen. "One of them leaves behind a wife and two children who were to celebrate their 21st anniversary in two days," stated (Minister of Justice) Eric Dupond-Moretti. "The other leaves behind a 5-month pregnant wife,  relatives and friends". Three other officers are seriously wounded, one of whose condition is critical, and two are hospitalized in relative urgency.

In total, the escort was comprised of 5 officers, divided between a van and a utility vehicle, a prison source informs us. In a video disseminated on social media, we see at least 5 men, dressed entirely in black, firing military weapons at the two vehicles.

Attack on prison van in Eure: Two officers killed, one prisoner escaped

Tuesday, 14 May, the transport van between Evreux and Rouen, the prisoner escaped

The attack took place shortly after 11:00 at the Incarville toll stop.

Not a "particularly notable prisoner"

The attack happened as the prisoner, born in 1994, and sentenced on May 10, 2024 by the Evreux court for burglary, had been removed from his cell at the Evreux Detention Center to appear before an investigating judge at the Rouen Judicial Tribunal in connection with a criminal procedure in which he had been charged for attempted murder. The escape occurred at 10:57 on return from this hearing, at the Incarville toll station. The van was struck from the front by a stolen vehicle, which had passed the same toll station a few minutes earlier, according to a statement by the Paris Prosecutor's office. Several armed persons came out from a second vehicle that was following the convoy, thus blocking all possibility of escape. The thugs then opened fire with several shots at the two prison vehicles, the prosecutor's office states. 

The man was not a particularly high-profile prisoner (DPS), but his profile, "necessitated a level 3 escort," stated the Paris national prosecutor.

After having abandoned the vehicle used in the attack, apparently, a Peugeot 5008, they reportedly fled in a white Audi A5 and a series 5 BMW. The two vehicles were subsequently discovered burned, one in the municipality of Vatteville, the other near the hospital of Evreux. One of the attackers was also wounded.

Also according to our information, the fugitive, Mohamed Amra, nickname, "The Fly", is reportedly originally from the La Sabliere quarter of Rouen. He already has several criminal convictions to his credit, notably, for "drug traffic" and "attempted homicide". On the other hand, he had not been classified as a radicalized prisoner.

......................................................................................................................

(Translator's note) The above article has just been updated, and the above link is now dramatically different from what has been translated to this point. 

A Freudian Slip at Florida International University?

FIA in April 2024

-Panther Now

Hat tip Campus Reform and Israel War Room. (I don't know if the latter site is part of the Israeli government or not. It is obviously pro-Israel.)

”In every single protest that we have, our actions have had counter-protesters, and there is never any backlash and never police protecting us. In fact, our police are directly protecting counter-protesters even at our events,” the woman said. “So I want to ask you all, is Palestinian life not worth mourning? And we as Arabs, Palestinian, Muslim, and anti-Jewish students, are we not worth protecting?”

On February 5, the student government senate at Florida International University was debating a cease-fire resolution over the Israeli war in Gaza (It failed.)  One speaker, a young Muslim woman in hijab, spoke and was captured on video making what can only be described as a Freudian slip. She described herself and her cohorts as "anti-Jewish".

How often do we hear the pro-Palestinian protesters insist that they are not anti-Jewish, just anti-Zionist? It is a lie, and in my opinion, the lie was inadvertently exposed at Florida International University on February 5. These protests are supporting Hamas. They describe the October 7 massacres as "justified resistance". Hamas itself is anti-Jewish, as stated in their own charter where they call for other destruction not only of the Jewish state but the Jews as well.

The other lie she spoke was in complaining how police protect counter-protesters and not the 'Arab, Palestinian, Muslim, anti-Jewish" protesters. I am fully aware of the incident at UCLA recently when that encampment was attacked by people from outside the university and there was a long, long delay in an effective police response. I do not condone that incident. That aside,  however, it is the counter-protesters who need protection,. It is the Jewish students and Israel supporters who need protection. All too often, they have failed to receive it on campuses across the nation. It is the pro-Israel events that always get disrupted by the friends and colleagues of this woman at FIU. It is her own protests and demonstrations that are all too often disruptive, unruly, or violent. Pro-Israel demonstrators hold their events peacefully and according to rules laid down by the university.

Can we say the same for Students in Justice in Palestine? No. They routinely use tactics of disruption and intimidation. They are pro-Hamas-and they are anti-Jewish. I don't know if the speaker in question is a member of SJP, but they obviously travel in the same circles.

Sweden: Eurovision in Crisis Mode

                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                   

Bambi Thug

The Eurovision Song Contest being held in Malmo, Sweden is in crisis mode due to the participation of Israel. As the competition holds its final stage tonight, Eden Golan, from Israel, just may turn out to be the winner. They are already going crazy because Israel is in the competition. What will they do if she wins?

Meanwhile, another finalist, the appropriately named Bambi Thug, from Ireland, is demanding that Israel be kicked out. The competition organizers have held an "emergency meeting" today.

As for Bambi, if she doesn't win the Eurovision context, surely she can get her mug on Bud Lite cans.

The below article from today's Expressen, is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.expressen.se/noje/eurovision/irland-missade-genrepet-i-eurovision/

Ireland missed dress rehearsal in Eurovision

Posted 11 May 2024 ar 14:40

Updated 16:55

Ireland, Switzerland, and Greece were absent from the artist presentation before the dress rehearsal in Eurovision on Saturday afternoon.

Now Irish (performer) Bambi Thug explains that it was a protest and attempt to get EBU's attention.

In an interview with Irish RTE, she says she wants Israel excluded. According to NRK, EBU is holding a crisis meeting about what occurred.

By Johan Bratell

Caption: New demonstration for Palestine during dress rehearsal

Neither Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, nor disqualified Netherlands were seen when the Eurovision artists were presented at the dress rehearsal before the evening's final in Malmo Arena.

Now fan-favorite, Ireland's Bambi Thug, talks about the decision not to show up.

"A situation arose while we were waiting to go onstage before the dress rehearsal, which I felt I needed to bring to the attention of EBU. EBU has taken this seriously, and we have had a discussion on what needs to be done. This means that I am missing the dress rehearsal. I am sorry for all the fans who have come to see me. I hope to see you from the stage tonight," Bambi Thug writes in a statement via social media.

Norwegian NRK writes that EBU is holding a crisis meeting about what occurred.

Demand that Israel be removed

Later in the afternoon, Bambi Thug left the hotel dressed in a Palestinian shawl.

Bambi Thug tells Irish RTE that she wants Israel excluded, and she is critical of what the country's  commentator said during a broadcast on Tuesday.

"There will be a lot of spells, black magic, Satanist symbols, and voodoo dolls," the commentator said then, according to RTE.

During the rehearsal before the semi-final, Bambi Thug had written the words, "Cease fire" and "freedom for Palestine" on her body in the late Middle Ages written language, Ogham, Aftonbladet reported.

Caption: Bambi Thug leaves hotel in Palestinian shawl on Saturday

Greece and Switzerland also (absent) 

Greece was also not seen during the flag parade, but when it was Marina Sattis' turn to perform, she stood on the stage and did her number. The same was true for Nemo from Switzerland.

Protests against Israel again

Eden Golan, 20, from Israel, with her contribution, "Hurricane", has sailed to one of the big favorites in the evening's Eurovision.

But the protests against her participation continue.

 During Saturday afternoon's dress rehearsal, she was once again met with boos from the audience-and with that, two Palestinian flags appeared when she took the stage.

EBU earlier communicated that only flags from competing nations, plus the rainbow flag are permitted.  

UC Irvine: Campus Newspaper Reports Suspensions of Encampment Members and Organizations

Yesterday, UC Irvine's campus newspaper, New University, which is reporting regularly on the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus and the university's attempts to negotiate with the protestors, reported that some protesters, including negotiators, were suspended. The paper also reported that Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)  and two other related organizations have been suspended. I don't know how accurate this is, but it can be read here. If true, it would be a positive first step.

SJP has also confirmed via social media that students have been suspended. No word on the status of SJP itself.

Guess Who Is Speaking at UC Irvine? (Hatem Bazian)

 

By the time this is posted, UC Berkeley professor and (according to many of his critics) anti-Jewish agitator, Hatem Bazian, will be speaking before the little rascals at the UC Irvine encampment. I have heard him speak several times, and I don't need one more to know what this man is all about.

Bazian's bio is quite long and "impressive", so to speak. He washed up on our shores from either Jordan or the West Bank as a student at San Francisco State University. Rather than act as a good representative of his homeland, he became an agitator on campus and earned the reputation as an anti-Semite with his diatribes against Israel, the West, and Jews. Many of his critics refer to him as "Hate'm Bazian".

This is the man who once called for an intifada in the US (San Francisco 2004). After he graduated with all his fancy degrees, he became a professor at-where else- UC Berkeley. Along the way, he racked up a long list of anti-Jewish statements including once reportedly calling for students to note all the Jewish names on school buildings. On one occasion, he reportedly quoted the cute little Hadith ditty about the Day of Judgment when the Muslim will fight the Jew, and the Jew will hide behind the rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will call out, "O Muslim, a Jew is hiding behind me. Come and kill him". (You can't make this up.)

The first time I heard Bazian speak at UC Irvine many years ago (2010), I pointedly asked him about those quotes. I never did get a straight answer. Since then he has been accused of more anti-Semitic remarks over the years.

Bazian is a co-founder of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and also a co-founder of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), which assists SJP logistically and financially. They are both despicable organizations.

So as I conclude, Bazian will probably already be spouting his venom into a bullhorn, much to the annoyance of teachers, students, and researchers trying to go about the business of education in Rowland Hall and other surrounding buildings where the encampment is set up.

Rowland  Hall is named after Frank Sherwood Rowland, a noted chemist, Nobel laureate, and professor at UC Irvine who passed away in 2012. I have no idea if he was Jewish, but if so, maybe Bazian will point it out to his audience.

Has anybody seen Chancellor Howard Gillman?

Malmö: The Eurovision Song Competition Taken Over by Hamas Supporters

-BBC

The chaos continues in Malmö during the  Eurovision Song Competition. The pro-Hamas mobs have descended on the city by the thousands to demonstrate against the participation of Israeli singer, Eden Golan (who is now in the finals!)

In the below report by the conservative Swedish site, Samnytt, an Israeli reporter was attacked and beaten by the pro-Hamas thugs after he identified himself as an Israeli and a Jew. Apparently, the thugs are checking IDs. In addition, Jamal El Haj, was seen and photographed in the demonstration. The tweet referring to his "lifelong fight against Hamas" is no doubt sarcastic. Also present, as previously reported, was Sweden's goodwill ambassador to the world, Great Thunberg.

(Wouldn't it be great if Eden Golan wins the contest? Can you imagine the rage?)

The below article is translated by Fousesquawk:

 https://samnytt.se/israelisk-reporter-misshandlades-i-malmo-gang-kravde-bevis-att-han-inte-ar-jude

Israeli reporter was beaten in Malmö- Gang demanded proof he wasn't Jewish

Posted at 16:20

Despite a police operation that made Malmö look like a city in war, an Israeli reporter was beaten by the multi-cultural mob which, in the past days, has gathered in the city to trumpet their hate against Israel and Jews.

Reporter Zeev Avrahami is in Malmö during Eurovision to report on the competition for the Israeli news site, Ynetnews. In Malmö, he was attacked by a group that demanded that he prove that he wasn't Jewish or Israeli.

His first impression when he stepped off the train from Copenhagen was that "it looked like Jenin", a city in the northern West Bank, with Palestinian flags everywhere and placards with slogans like "Boycott Israel".

When Avrahami began to photograph, a woman in her 60s, clad in a Palestinian shawl, showed up and demanded that he stop taking pictures. Police were called in and stated that he had the right to take pictures in a public place. When Avrahami continued to the demonstration, he was followed by the woman with friends who began to take pictures of the reporter.

Beaten

The group, which grew to a total of 10 persons, including young Muslims, with all the visible attire, demanded that Avrahami produce documents that prove he wasn't Jewish or Israeli, to which he answered that he was both. Suddenly, he was slugged hard in the head with a blunt object and fell to the ground. He was also kicked and slugged.

The police, who were busy guarding the square, did not intervene.

Terror romanticization

From the demonstrations, it was reported that the former Social Democrat, Jamal El-Haj, participated and that the romanticization of terror flowed.

Tweet: Peter Sellei

Look who shows up at the anti-Israel demonstrations in Malmö, now documented by Pressfeldt. El-Haj persistently continues his lifelong fight against Hamas.

Tweet: Daniel Schatz

The romanticization of terror continues. On these banners, Leila Khaled is celebrated, the world's first female airplane hijacker. In 1969, she hijacked a plane with an AK-47 and a hand grenade.

Tweet: Bawar Kim Ismael

Oh, God. PMF is a proxy militia for the mullahs in Iran. They have committed war crimes. Murdered and executed Iraqi demonstrators. They host several terror-designated groups in the movement. And now their flag waves in Malmö. Scandal.

Tweet: Daniel Schatz

How is it that flags from Iraq's Iran-sponsored militia, Popular Mobilization Forces, show up during Palestinian demonstrations in Malmö? This group is sponsored by the dictators in Iran. Militia groups under the PMF are terror-designated by the USA.

UC Irvine: Hillel Issues Letter to Chancellor to Shut Down Encampment

Tamy Cohen, the director of Hillel in Orange County, California and  UC Irvine, has issued a public letter to UC Irvine to shut down the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.  As Ms. Cohen points out, the encampment has been a source of anti-Semitism and intimidation for Jewish students as well as a disruption to students and professors attempting to engage in education in the space around the encampment.

I have signed the letter and I hope my readers will as well.

https://mailchi.mp/ochillel/update-17105791?e=5fa747fbac

Friends, It pains me to have to write this message to you today, but the time has come to amplify the voices of Jewish students at UC Irvine through strong, collective action. Vigorous debate and protest are essential hallmarks of American college campuses, but the encampment at UC Irvine has gone far beyond legitimate expression of free speech. Since October 7, Jewish students have been subjected to vile antisemitic harassment on campus by fellow students, non-students, and even some faculty members. The encampment — which is in violation of UCI’s rules and code of conduct — has emboldened the demonstrators to escalate their rhetoric and actions to unconscionable levels. For the past 11 days, students walking to and from class near the raucous encampment are confronted with hateful slogans demanding the eradication of the Jewish state through “intifada” - or violent uprisings - and “resistance by any means necessary” as well as calls for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the state of Israel “from the river to the sea.” The loud drumming and amplified chanting makes it nearly impossible to focus on studies in nearby classrooms, especially when the hate-filled messages are directly targeting the Jewish community. This is not a mere disruption; it is a direct threat to the safety and well-being of our community. As the leader of OC Hillel, I call on our community to join me in supporting our students and demand that the university take decisive action. University leaders must ensure a campus climate that is hospitable to all students. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of Jewish students so that they may attend their university free of discrimination and harassment — and so that they may live rich and full Jewish lives.  I value our partnership with the university administration, and I believe that they will do the right thing when they hear the voices of Jewish students amplified strongly by you - our Jewish parents, alumni, local community members, and allies. Sign the Petition To illustrate how unbearable it is, I will share this account from a student who gave me permission to share it with you. It is but one of many horrific accounts we have heard from students in recent weeks. When I was walking to class, I saw the flag of Israel drawn on the ground with red footprints on it and the words, “Please wipe feet." That’s the flag of my nationality. My family lives there! I stopped to take a picture to document this awful scene, and a man smirked at me and said, “It’s a nice doormat right?” I’m sure he noticed the Star of David necklace I was wearing. People started to video me as they called for “intifada.” I cry every time I pass by this encampment - and I have to walk by every day to get to class. This is not how I should feel paying tuition at my university. If you agree that this is unacceptable, please sign this petition and lift up the voices of our students today.  If you or someone you know needs any support during this time, please reach out to any member of the OC Hillel team. We are here for you. Holding you all tight,  Tamy Cohen Executive Director OC Hillel To report incidents of antisemitism on campus, please visit ReportCampusHate.org.

UCLA Arrests on Monday

 KABC News in Los Angeles is reporting today that 44 persons were arrested Monday allegedly preparing to break into a UCLA building as part of the pro-Palestinian occupation. Police recovered several tools used to break into structures.

In the video here, you can see a man who is handcuffed wearing a lime-green baseball cap. The view is from the back, but this would appear to be one of the "legal observers" of the National Lawyers Guild, a far-left legal organization that was founded in the 1930s as a legal arm of the Communist Party USA.  Their "observers" have been present at UCLA in recent days as they are in so many pro-Palestinian protests. From the front, the words, "National Lawyers Guild legal observer" are written on their caps as can be seen in this Daily Bruin report of the arrests. You can read the words clearly if you enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong in Malmö?

-Aftonbladet

There is much tension in Malmö, Sweden as the Eurovision Song Contest enters its semi-final stage with Israeli singer, Eden Golan, performing her song, Hurricane. During an audience rehearsal, she was booed by some in the audience. Some protesters were thrown out by security because they were displaying Palestinian flags. Only flags from participating nations are allowed inside the arena. Outside on the streets, thousands marched under the watchful eyes of heavily armed police, not only from Sweden, but Denmark and Norway as well. Even Sweden's most beloved brat, Greta Thunberg, was marching.

The below article from Nya Dagbladet, is translated by Fousesquawk. Note that E#den Golan's name is misspelled more than once in the article. We are also working to supply English subtitles to a couple of Swedish news videos. 

https://nyadagbladet.se/inrikes/tiotusentals-vantas-demonstrera-mot-israel-i-malmo/

Tens of thousands expected to demonstrate against Israel in Malmö

Caption: An earlier and considerably smaller protest in Malmö

Today, two pro-Palestinian demonstrations are being organized in Malmö against Israel's participation in "Eurovision", in which the organizers believe there will be about 25,000 participants. A bit later, there will also be a pro-Israel demonstration to "support" the Israeli artist, Eden Golan, and on Malmö's streets, there will be heavily armed police from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

At 4 pm, pro-Palestinian demonstrators will march from Stortorget (Grand Square) to Slottsparken (Palace Park), and organizers of "Stop Israel" report that about 25,000 participants are expected. An hour later, another similar demonstration is organized in the city district of Hyllie.

"We will act quickly, setting limits, and we have a low tolerance. On the other hand, we have a high tolerance for freedom of speech," says Police Commander Petra Stenkula to TV4.

At 6 pm, there will be a "counter-demonstration" held at Davidhallstorg (Davidhall Square), where the stated purpose is to support the Israeli artist, Eden Golan, who is taking part in the evening's semi-final. Heavily armed police from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are on-site, but report that at this time, they have not received anything that indicates there will be violence. 

"There will be a lot of police seen in the city," says police spokesman, Filip Annas, to TT (new group).

 Want to throw Israel out

It can be noted that hundreds of demonstrators are arriving in Malmö from Denmark in hired buses, and even more are expected to cross the strait by train.

"Our primary task is to see that the public gatherings are carried out without disturbances, and should there be disturbances, we naturally will deal with it," explains Annas.

Pro-Palestinian voices, till now without success, have long demanded that Eden Golan and Israel be thrown out of the music competition, referring to Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza and what is described as a genocide directed against the Palestinian population there. 

*Update: Several protesters have attempted to get into the Eurovision Village, but have been blocked by police. There have been arrests.

-Expressen

A Public Letter From Columbia's Jewish Students-and Facebook's Response

I am cross-posting a public letter signed by hundreds of Jewish students at Columbia. I received this letter through the Facebook grapevine and re-posted it on my FB page with the below comment:

 "Jewish students at Columbia letter. Such an eloquent contrast to the bloodthirsty rhetoric of the pro-Hamas mobs.

Our university presidents should hang their heads in shame for allowing their Jewish students to be subjected to this crap."

Within minutes, I got a message from FB stating that my posting may have violated their community guidelines. I was given the option of taking it down or leaving it as is. I chose to leave it as is.

So what was objectionable to FB, my comments or the letter itself? They did not say.

Let's see what happens.

UC Irvine: Update From the Chancellor

Yesterday, UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman issued an update on the pro-Hamas encampment situation on his campus. He describes his continuing "negotiations" with the protesters and the complaints of some faculty and students that their studies are being disrupted by the noise from the encampment. He describes the intransigence of the protests and acknowledges the proper counter-protesters from the other side, who are peaceful, orderly, and in conformance with campus regulations. It can be read below.

This is a joke. Gillman acknowledges that this encampment is in violation of university regulations and is interfering with the operations of the university and the learning environment. Yet, he continues to negotiate for "peace in our time".

It is time to give these protesters a deadline to dismantle the encampment or have it dismantled by police.  Any resistance to the police should be met with arrests and immediate expulsions of students.

When I was at the encampment last week, I counted around 60 protesters. This out of a total student population of some 30,000 students, who, as Gillman mentions, are simply trying to get an education. They and their families are paying tens of thousands of dollars a year for that education and expect a proper learning environment. If Gillman cannot provide that for them and rid his campus of people who are siding with vicious terrorists (Hamas), he should resign.

May 7, 2024

Update on the Rowland Hall Encampment

The encampment near Rowland Hall remains peaceful although we are seeing reports from students expressing concerns about discrimination and harassment as well as reports of disruptive protesting that is interfering with teaching and test-taking. There have been some reports of vandalism and this afternoon more widespread painting of messages on university property are occurring.

While our circumstances are presenting fewer risks of disruption and concerns about campus safety than we have seen elsewhere, the encampment is still having an impact on our learning environment, and every day these violations of university policy continue there is the possibility that the situation will become more fraught. And so, all our efforts are designed to reach a peaceful resolution that leads to the voluntary dismantling of the encampment.

We met with the students on Monday, aiming for a resolution to end the encampment. There was a commitment to continue discussions today, and we conveyed the importance of ongoing, regular, and productive conversations. Unfortunately, the students were not willing to meet with us today. The delays by the students in agreeing to conversations has been frustrating given the need for a timely resolution of this situation and our willingness since last week to meet every day at any time of their choosing.

We have identified several areas where it would be easy to accommodate legitimate questions and concerns, such as being transparent about how we use the resources from the Office of the President to address Islamophobia and Antisemitism and providing information about the investments of the UCI Foundation. We have already enhanced transparency on these two topics and have proposed meetings to discuss further actions. However, there are still demands on the table that are inconsistent with fundamental principles and policies of the University of California.

For instance, to demand an end to any scholarly or educational partnerships with Israel or Israelis not only discriminates based on nationality, but also violates basic principles of academic freedom that are the cornerstone of the rights and privileges of our faculty.

Faculty members have the autonomy to participate in any lawful scholarly or educational partnership or collaboration that they believe facilitates their work. Individual faculty members may opt out of collaborations with individuals from certain countries or organizations; others will make different choices. But academic freedom requires that these choices be made by the faculty members themselves as highly qualified experts in their fields.

Similarly, there are demands that seek to prevent faculty and students from expressing views and organizing programs on topics relating to Israel, Zionism, or Antisemitism that conflict with these protestors’ views. These demands also infringe on the academic freedom of faculty members, as well as the free speech rights of both faculty and other students.

These demands are not only unreasonable, but the protestors also fail to recognize that the free speech rights they challenge are the same ones that protect their rights to express their own views as part of legitimate protest and advocacy. While they feel strongly that views they oppose should not be expressed, I assure you there are also members within our community who view the protestors’ opinions as objectionable, even hateful, and feel they should be censored and punished merely for expressing those views.

People who attend a university in a free society must be tolerant of diverse viewpoints. Rather than trying to suppress differing opinions through pressure or intimidation, they should embrace our scholarly norms and engage in discussions, debates, advocacy, and peaceful persuasion.

The situation in Gaza is a catastrophe and the extent of innocent human suffering is unbearable to watch. Every person who cares about the well-being of humanity should have their attention drawn to this situation and advocate for whatever course of action they believe would best help end this tragedy. But having raised the saliency of this issue, it is very important for the well-being of the campus for all those in the encampment to return to legitimate forms of protest and advocacy.

As we work to prevent the campus situation from developing in ways that would raise more serious concerns about public safety, we must also be prepared to uphold our rules against encampments and the unauthorized building of structures by using the ordinary administrative processes of the campus. Failure to enforce these rules in this circumstance would hinder our ability to prevent others from taking over parts of the campus for their own purposes. It is also unlawful for us to enforce the regulations selectively based on the political views of those involved.

It may be worth noting that peaceful counter demonstrations and alternative academic programming have been organized on campus in accordance with all university regulations. These actions contribute to the expression of diverse viewpoints and the maintenance of order on campus.

I continue to urge all members of the university community to do all they can to foster an environment that can be peaceful, undisturbed, and free from harassment. Those who are unaffiliated with the campus must refrain from actions that will escalate the situation or compromise the safety of our students, staff and faculty.

We are fortunate to have tens of thousands of amazing students who have worked tremendously hard to have the opportunity to pursue an excellent education at their dream school. Even as we focus on this particular event, I hope we can all keep in mind that we have a parallel obligation to ensure that the campus environment continues to support the ambitions and success of all of our students.

Fiat Lux,

Chancellor Howard Gillman

France: Cemetery Desecrated

-Radio France

The rash of anti-Jewish outrages in France continues unabated. In the small French town of Tourtoirac (Dordogne Department), 82 tombs in a cemetery were found to be tagged with spray paint graffiti, much of it anti-Semitic in nature. The below article from today's France Bleu is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/des-tags-allah-decouverts-sur-les-tombes-d-un-nouveau-cimetiere-de-dordogne-8724327

"Racist", "Zionist", "Jew", "Allah": Tags discovered again in a cemetery in Dordogne

Inscriptions in black spray paint were discovered Monday, May 6 on 82 tombs in the Tourtoirac Cemetery. The Gendarmes conducted the count during the evening. Since the start of the year, a series of crucifix monuments, and a cemetery have also been tagged in this sector.  

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 00:39 

By Marc Bertrand

Caption: 82 tombs were tagged in the Tourtoirac Cemetery in the Perigord Vert

(Inscriptions: "I hate you")

82 tombs defaced

"It's a crazy person who does that," Nanou laments, pushing open the cemetery gate on the hills outside the town of Tourtoirac. On Monday, May 6, in the afternoon, a workman who came to repair the gate discovered the tags on 82 tombs in the main cemetery of the village, according to information received by France Bleu Perigord.

Dozens of tombs were covered with inscriptions in black spray paint: "Allah", "cowards", "I hate you", as well as tags making reference to political personalities or to various news items. Some tags announce the death dates of Jean-Luc Melenchon, Marine Le Pen, or Jordan Barbella, or even Pascal Praud, (while) others make reference to Mila or "Vengeance for Cherbourg".

Tags had already been seen since December in the surrounding villages, on the calvaries of Saint-Pantaly-d'Excideuil, Cherveix-Cubas, Saint-Mesmin, and Coulaures. A first cemetery had been tagged at Clermont d'Excideuil in early March. "It's the same thing as in the other villages, particularly in Clermont," the mayor of Tourtoirac believes. 

Caption: References to politicians with their death date announced are tagged on the tombs. 

"People of the book must......(covered"), "Zionists", "M. Habib 1961-2024", "Racist J. Bardella 1995-?", "Jew Zemmour, 1958-?", "Fascist M. Le Pen 1968-?" 

Caption: The police were still at the scene Monday evening searching for clues.

"Already damned"

"Don't play the game" of the tagger

For the last two months, no tag had been seen. Consequently, the series seems to be continuing. Investigators and the criminal identification technicians of the Gendarmerie spent the afternoon at the scene. An investigation is already open after the preceding defacements, but the prosecutor's office, queried during the evening, did not wish to say yet if there is a connection with the new tags discovered Monday.

Mayor Dominique Durand appealed "not to play the game" of the person or persons who tagged. "What message are they trying to send? Is it a provocation? We must remain pragmatic and wait for the gendarmes to do their job".

Caption: Dozens of tombs tagged

"We let nothing pass", "weaklings and cowards" (Charles) "Martel will not return"

UC Irvine-Then and Now

Hat tip Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism

"Among the Task Force’s findings were:

1. UCI’s Chancellor “has failed to exercise his moral authority as an educator and leader by abrogating his leadership responsibilities… There is no indication that the University is at all concerned about the disconnect between campus values and the values of the greater society.”
   
   
2. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Hillel, the American Jewish Committee, and the Jewish Federation of Orange County “have not effectively represented the Jewish Community or Jewish students at UCI,” because they “have not held the University and its leadership accountable for its failure to support an environment conducive to all students.” The Task Force specifically exempted the ZOA from these conclusions.
   
   
3. Anti-Semitic acts on the UCI campus “are real and well-documented. Jewish students have been harassed. Hate speech has been unrelenting.”
   
   
4. The Muslim Student Union, a registered student group at UCI that is responsible for regularly sponsoring anti-Semitic and anti-Israel speakers and programs on campus, “is agenda driven and unchecked by the bounds of propriety. It allies and identifies itself with terrorist groups that are enemies of the United States.

In the midst of all the turmoil on our campuses and the attacks upon Jewish students, Joshua Namm, a former member of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, has written an article dated May 1, 2024 in Orange County Jewish Life to explain why he left that organization. I have added my own comments about the Jewish Federation of Orange County in the reader comments section.

In 2006, the Orange County Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism was formed to investigate the complaints of anti-Semitism on the UC Irvine campus from Jewish students. In February 2008, they issued their report, which was posted here by the Louis D Brandeis Center. The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) also posted the report, as well as their own summary. That can be accessed here. The work of the Task Force was greatly supported by ZOA.

Yesterday, one of the leaders of the OC Independent Task Force on Anti-Semitism sent me the above three links to illustrate that not much has changed at UC Irvine since the 2008 report was issued. As for the 4 points above (from the Task Force report and noted by ZOA), the only things that have changed are the emergence of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter in 2010 at UCI, the name of the chancellor, and the names of the leaders of the above organizations. SJP has largely taken over the front and center position from the MSU in terms of protest and disruptions though they share many members. I should note that UCI Hillel was a co-organizer of the Holocaust Remembrance March at UCI on May 6, 2024. That is good, but many of us feel that, over the years, the organization has been too timid on the UCI campus. Hopefully, that is changing but I am still withholding judgment.

But the bottom line is this: Not much has changed during the past couple of decades. If anything, it is now worse than ever.

UC Irvine: Jewish Students and Community Members March in Commemoration of the Victims of Shoah

 On Monday, several Jewish students, members of Jewish campus clubs, and community members gathered on the UC Irvine campus and held a silent march around the Aldrich Park section of the campus to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust (Shoah). The event was sponsored by the UCI chapter of Hillel, AEPi (Jewish fraternity), and Chabad at UCI. They brought posters of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, and several Israeli and American flags were also present. At one point, part of the crowd proceeded on a silent march while others remained by the flagpoles to answer questions from interested students.

At the start of the event, the community members were asked not to engage with the pro-Palestinian protesters who had set up an encampment on the campus. The marching route was around Aldrich Park, which circles the campus inside Ring Rd, the main campus artery that also circles the campus. The encampment is set up on Ring Road. Participants were given a sheet produced by the students and the above-mentioned groups with "guidelines" they asked the community members to follow.

I myself chose to march with a couple of dozen others. We passed near the encampment but not close enough to result in any engagement. One of our group did choose to go to the encampment and stand silently with a small Israeli flag. There was a police presence at the encampment as well as police cars parked on the grass nearby where we passed. One officer followed us on foot. As we passed police checkpoints, I could hear them talking on the radio and reporting our progress. There were no incidents.

After the march and back at the flagpoles, there was considerable discussion among the participants. I had a chance to engage with a couple of students. There were some disagreements between the students and community members as to what role the community should play. Much of the disagreement circles around students feeling they are more knowledgeable about the problem since they are dealing with it on campus. Some community members, like myself, pointed out that we had been dealing with the UCI problems for 15-20 years and did have a perspective. There was definitely a concern among some students, and certainly, Hillel that community members would get involved in back and forth with the pro-Palestinians and that an incident might occur that would impact their status on campus. They were particularly concerned about a repeat of what happened at UCLA in the past week. It should be pointed out that the campus groups, in fact, asked the community to come to campus and participate in their event. One student expressed to me that the community was invited because they (Jewish students) are frustrated with the lack of any effective response from the administration of UCI. As it was, no community members violated the "guidelines". I  pointed out to a student that the university's own guidelines permitted more involvement in these public events (as long as they were not disruptive.) One community member (who has been very active in UCI matters over the years) expressed to me that he felt it was a waste of time. In addition, one Jewish professor told me that earlier in the protest, some protesters had come chanting into his classroom building and that it was very unnerving to the Jewish students. 

My feelings are mixed. On the one hand, I am happy that Jewish students and community members showed their presence on campus and did so in a dignified manner, quite in contrast to the methods of the pro-Hamas crowd with their loud and intimidating tactics. I can well understand why they don't want community members to come to campus and engage in violent or disruptive tactics. The fact is, however, that we have a very good track record at UCI in not embarrassing our cause while exercising our own rights under the First Amendment. Nobody present yesterday had any intention to repeat what happened at UCLA. I do feel, however, that a more militant approach has to be taken with the university. Jewish faculty and groups like Hillel should be pounding on the desk of the UCI Chancellor, Howard Gillman. I have long felt that Hillel has been much too timid at UCI in this respect. There should be more pressure on UCI in terms of its donors and as to prospective Jewish students turning elsewhere for their education. I have stated this many times.

There was an Israeli speaking event later in the day at 3 pm, and some expected a disruption. I was not able to stay for that.

 Below is a copy of the "guidelines". I also took a few photos and videos. I'm still working on an additional video. (Don't expect anything you'll see on the 6 o'clock news.)

*Update: (May 10) Here is how the campus newspaper, New University, reported the event.