ANU investigating reporting of Nazi salute, death threats against Jewish students on campus as pro-Palestine encampment continues

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A student protest against the conflict in Gaza at the Australian National University is causing division on campus. Some Jewish student says the protest should not be taking place, while other are involved in it.

Transcript

00:00 A student protest prompting a counter-protest. Jewish students allege death threats and a

00:07 Nazi salute were made, which the ABC has been unable to verify. It's also unclear if members

00:14 of the encampment were involved.

00:16 Jews are extremely unhappy on campus, feel extremely unsafe, and we don't feel that the

00:22 university is going to do anything about it.

00:25 The university told the ABC it's investigating the allegations and said it does not condone

00:30 any speech that is discriminatory or violates Australian law or our code of conduct. Necessary

00:36 disciplinary action may be taken if our codes are breached.

00:40 This campus protest is highly visible and increasingly divisive. Banners, placards and

00:46 signs are prominent, their messages mixed, causing distress to some Jewish students.

00:52 I want peace in the region. This does nothing to help it. All it does is make Jews on campus

00:57 feel unsafe and miserable.

00:59 The encampment was formed by various groups on campus, including the ANU Students Association.

01:05 Yeah, it is a confronting issue and it is an upsetting issue, but that doesn't mean

01:08 that we can't have the conversations.

01:10 Protest material is being posted beyond the boundaries of the encampment and is responded

01:15 to swiftly. On this May Day, unions showed their solidarity with the protest.

01:21 While some Jewish students are upset and offended by the encampment and protests like this,

01:26 others are getting involved.

01:28 I've been so immensely welcomed in this community and I've never felt more supported

01:34 and welcomed in my life.

01:36 Anna has camped overnight at the protest and is involved with organising it.

01:40 People being against the Israeli government is not people being against the Jewish people.

01:44 Divided opinion on a divided campus.

01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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