RPNM Calls on NM Democratic Leaders to Condemn Antisemitism on State and National College Campuses

May 8-The Republican Party of New Mexico condemns the increasing antisemitic rhetoric, violence, intimidation, and vandalism witnessed on both state and national college campuses and calls on Democratic state leaders to address this growing issue.

This disturbing trend has been linked to the pro-Palestine movement, which notably intensified following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7th-the deadliest assault on Jewish people since the Holocaust. On that day, Hamas terrorists brutally murdered 1,200 Israeli civilians, in addition to committing rape, mutilation, and other atrocities against their victims. Two hundred and fifty-three people, including children, babies, and Americans, were taken hostage, many of whom are still being held in captivity by Hamas.

Advocates of these pro-Palestine protests argue that Israel's counter-response to the attack on October 7th is excessively severe, a belief primarily influenced by the casualty figures reported by the Hamas Ministry of Health.

The ongoing protests have been marked by calls for the annihilation of the Jewish state of Israel, hateful accusations hurled at Jewish students, labeling them as 'Zionist Nazis,' and an atmosphere of intimidation primarily targeting Jewish students.

Another disturbing trend is the emergence of non-student agitators, who often come from very privileged backgrounds, and paid attendees who are leading the aggression on these college campuses. It has also come to light that many of these protests espousing antisemitic views are being funded by the largest donors to President Joe Biden's campaign and other Democrats.

In New Mexico, there have been protests targeting Jewish performers, such as rapper Matisyahu. A staff walk-out forced Matisyahu to cancel his sold-out concert at the Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. In addition, protesters tried to get Jewish comedian Jerry Seinfeld's New Mexico show canceled and also harassed Livia Link-Raviv, the Consul General of Israel to the Southwestern U.S., to such an extent that her community event had to be called off due to security concerns. Additional protests in New Mexico have broken out in vandalism, trespassing, obstruction of traffic, and have forced school classes to go remote.

Nationally, chants of "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" can be heard at these protests while American flags are torn down, and Palestinian flags are hoisted up. It is completely unacceptable that these national pro-Palestine/anti-Israel protests have also escalated into violence and even loss of life.

At UCLA, a female Jewish student was kicked, stomped, and knocked unconscious by pro-Palestine rioters. At Yale University, a female Jewish student was stabbed in eye with a Palestinian flag by an anti-Israel protester. At a protest in California, a 69-year-old Jewish man was beaten to death by a pro-Palestinian agitator.

We are disheartened to read reports of Jewish students feeling frightened to the point where they fear displaying their Star of David, a symbol of their faith and identity, due to concerns of being targeted.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico and Democratic state leaders, including Rep. Gabe Vasquez, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez have not taken a stand to condemn the antisemitic environment fostered at these protests but have all issued statements calling for Israel to ceasefire.

"It's becoming increasingly evident who's willing to turn a blind eye to the blatant antisemitism happening right before them. This year, Democrats have made it clear that they are willing to put the Jewish community at risk in order to appease antisemitic mobs who are sowing division and chaos among our communities,"said RPNM Spokeswoman Ash Soular.

"The Republican Party of New Mexico unequivocally condemns antisemitism and stands firmly with the resilient Jewish community in New Mexico as well as with Israel, our ally and the sole democracy in the Middle East. RPNM upholds the right of all Americans to express their views freely and to assemble peacefully. However, we strongly condemn violence, intimidation, obstruction of traffic or vandalism as acceptable forms of protest. RPNM calls on the Democratic leaders in New Mexico to take a strong stance against the hateful acts of antisemitism associated with the anti-Israel/pro-Palestine protests largely on college campuses and to take measures to protect the Jewish students and community from impending discrimination or violence," said RPNM Chairman Steve Pearce.

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