New Orleans, Louisiana – A clash erupted near Tulane University as anti-Israel demonstrators attempted to burn an Israeli flag and assault supporters of the Jewish state. The incident, which took place during a rally just off the Tulane campus, surprised witnesses with its sudden and unprovoked violence. One student who observed the assault described the instigators as individuals who did not appear to be affiliated with the university, speaking anonymously to avoid potential targeting.
Tulane University, located in New Orleans, has a significant Jewish population that has previously held peaceful pro-Israel marches without incident. In the lead-up to the clash, a newly-formed Instagram account called “Tulane Students For Palestine” criticized the university’s support of Zionism and Israel, organizing the rally that later turned violent. The student mentioned that the rally was disrupted by an orange truck driving by multiple times, eventually stopping to allow two individuals, possibly high schoolers, to attempt to burn an Israeli flag.
According to the witness, one of the individuals in the truck used a keffiyeh to conceal his face while the other wielded a lighter to ignite the flag. When a pro-Israel demonstrator tried to retrieve the flag, he was attacked by the individuals from the truck as well as two other men who began beating him. The witness emphasized that the pro-Israel demonstrator did not provoke the attackers in any way and noted that they did not appear to be Tulane students.
The sudden outbreak of violence was unexpected, as the witness described the campus as usually peaceful. This incident is part of a larger trend of rising anti-Semitic attacks targeting Jewish Americans following recent events in the Middle East. A similar attack occurred at Harvard University during a “die-in” protest against the Jewish state.
Tulane Students for Palestine, the group behind the rally, expressed their disappointment at the clash but praised the turnout of supporters. One anti-Israel demonstrator was arrested following the incident. The university confirmed that a couple of Tulane students sustained minor injuries during the altercation and promised additional arrests once video evidence is reviewed.
The future of rallies organized by Tulane Students for Palestine remains uncertain, with the group hinting at potential future events in their social media posts. The university has yet to comment on the incident, leaving the community concerned about the presence of violent clashes near the campus.