OCC Muslim students stage demonstration

Deepa Bharath

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE -- Religious and political tensions in the Middle

East boiled over onto campus Thursday afternoon when about 20 students

from the Muslim Students Assn. staged an “anti-Zionist” demonstration in

the “free speech area” of the quad.

The students held signs that read “Anti-Israel,” “Anti-oppression” and

“We fear no one but Allah” as they walked from Harbor Boulevard and

Merrimac Way to their campus.

College officials last week denied the group use of rooms on campus

for the program because they feared its content might spark tension and

offend Jewish students.

The Muslim students’ group also failed to follow proper procedure in

making their request to the Associated Students Board, said Jim Carnett,

spokesman for the college.

“When they asked for permission, they said it was going to be

anti-oppression week,” he said. “There was no mention of words like

‘anti-Zionism’ or ‘anti-Israel.’ ”

Also, they hadn’t submitted the names of speakers to be featured in

the program, Carnett said.

“If they resubmit the application and the student board approves it,

they are free to go ahead with their program,” he said.

Members of the Muslim Students Assn. said they were only trying to

“present facts” and “put out more information.”

“We’re not attacking people, we’re informing them,” said Masood Tahir,

the group’s president. “We’re not anti-Jews, we’re against the Zionist

movement, the oppressors who kill innocent people and children.”

Zionism took form as an organized political movement in the 19th

century, but its roots date back to the 6th century BC, when Jews were

carried off to captivity in Babylon and their prophets encouraged them to

believe that one day God would allow them to return to Palestine.

Coexistence of Jews and Arabs, who are predominantly Muslim, is a

long-standing issue that has caused violent confrontations and several

riots since the beginning of this century.

Members of the campus’ newly formed Jewish organization Hillel said

they are offended by the anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli statements.

“Of course I feel bad,” said Neta Yoffe, a student and Hillel member.

“I’m from Israel. My family lives there. And when I see the words

‘anti-Israel,’ I feel hurt.”

Amanda Dryden, another member of the organization, said she would have

liked a more positive presentation, something less confrontational, from

the Muslim students.

“They could have said pro-Palestine and still given us the same

information,” she said. “I’m all for free speech. But hate speech,

against anybody, doesn’t have a place in our society.”

Speech and actions become unacceptable when they cross the line and

pronounce hatred, said Gary Levin, assistant director of the

Anti-Defamation League.

“Nothing has happened here so far,” he said. “The problem starts only

when things get out of hand.”

Demonstrators only wanted to provide information that the media is not

giving people, said Syma Chaudhry, member of the Muslim Student Assn.

“The media always decided what event they want to blow up,” she said.

“And that’s true in this issue as well.”

The significance of the issue is heightened by the fact that “both

sides are very passionate about it,” said Jeffrey Rips, executive

director of Hillel Foundation of Orange County, an international Jewish

organization.

“I don’t agree what they say,” he said. “But I support their right to

say it. Respectful dialogue is always healthy.”