To the Editor:
Salwa Tareen’s recent letter-to-the-editor (“Op-Ed on Campus Protests Misses the Point: Disruption Is the Goal,” June 7 ) — in response to Eboo Patel’s column on campus protests — sugarcoats the academic disruptions and other harm caused by many of the anti-Israel campus protests and encampments. In justifying the protests’ negative effects, she reveals her own privilege.
DePaul University’s self-reporting offers one example of the damage caused by many of the university encampments. DePaul documented more than 1,000 complaints of death threats, antisemitism, harassment, and intimidation from students, faculty, and area residents. Knives, a pellet gun, and other weapons were reportedly found at the encampment, including boards with “long nails/screws sticking out as traps.” While the documents aren’t publicly available anymore, the information was previously confirmed.
The DePaul protests caused 45 university events to be canceled, and property damage cost an estimated $180,000. Social media videos reportedly showed protesters praising Hamas and celebrating Oct. 7, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. The threats of violence were credible enough that a neighboring elementary school canceled recess to protect students.
Yet Tareen not only rationalizes but trivializes the negative effects that many protests had, arguing that “Yes, sometimes, as Patel describes, they make people miss a flight.”
But those missing their flights to accommodate these protests could have included people trying to attend a loved one’s funeral, receive specialized medical treatment, or perhaps take part in an international humanitarian mission.
Those same protest tactics may also have cost hourly workers lost wages and ride-share drivers their fares. Some of those workers might be union members like Tareen, a member of Boston University’s Graduate Workers Union. Her response to Patel perverts who merits empathy and who merits accolades.
Jay Tcath
Executive Vice President
Chicago Jewish Federation