Pro-Palestinian activists disrupt event with IDF veterans in California
Pro-Palestinian activists disrupted an event featuring two wounded veterans of the Israel Defense Forces at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. University police escorted the protesters out of the lecture hall, while attendees had to leave the building through another exit.
Protest in the lecture hall
The event, titled Rising to the Challenge, was organized by Mustangs United for Israel and Cal Poly Chabad in cooperation with CAMERA on Campus. Eliyahu Green and Ariel Saat, two wounded IDF veterans who fought in Gaza after the October 7 attacks, were scheduled to speak. The meeting was part of a university tour organized by Belev Echad and brought together about 40 students and community members.
As The Jerusalem Post reports, citing the student outlet Mustang News and video recordings, nine masked people entered the lecture hall before the speeches began. They brought an Israeli flag splattered with red paint bearing the words “IDF kills,” as well as signs reading, among other messages, “UN says genocide,” “The IDF kills kids,” and “End the occupation.”
The protesters chanted slogans against the IDF and called for an end to the killing of civilians. Claims of genocide and other accusations against the Israeli military were voiced by the participants in the action.
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Police intervention
In the video, a university police officer explained to the activists that they could not disrupt the event, although they had the right to be present nearby. Police referred to university rules governing the time, place, and manner of demonstrations and directed the group to a designated protest area.
According to Mustang News, the activists initially continued chanting in the hallway, after which police escorted them out of the building. CAMERA said that eight police officers were deployed to ensure the meeting could take place. According to the organization, because protesters had gathered near the main exit, visitors left the event through another exit.
After the event, Hillel of San Luis Obispo, Chabad on Campus, and Mustangs United for Israel said that thanks to the actions of police and the administration, they were able to hold the event as planned.
