{"id":2084440,"date":"2023-10-30T17:21:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T21:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/umass-lecturer-who-refused-to-condemn-terrorism-promises-pro-hamas-protesters-legal-support\/"},"modified":"2023-10-30T17:25:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T21:25:02","slug":"umass-lecturer-who-refused-to-condemn-terrorism-promises-pro-hamas-protesters-legal-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/umass-lecturer-who-refused-to-condemn-terrorism-promises-pro-hamas-protesters-legal-support\/","title":{"rendered":"UMass lecturer supports pro-Hamas protesters, vows legal assistance."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fumass-lecturer-who-refused-to-condemn-terrorism-promises-pro-hamas-protesters-legal-support%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2084440&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>&#8216;You don&#8217;t have to worry about finding a lawyer,&#8217; \u2064Rachel Weber assures students advocating \u200dterrorism against Israelis<\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption>Rachel Weber engaging in\u200c a debate about the Oct. 7 Hamas \u200bterrorist attack on Israel \u2064with students\u2062 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Twitter\/@KassyDillon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div>\n<p>A lecturer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Rachel Weber, who has refused to\u200b condemn Hamas, is now offering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-u-s-college-groups-have-assisted-a-designated-terrorist-org\/\" title=\"Report: U.S. College Groups Have Assisted A Designated Terrorist Org\">free legal representation<\/a> to anti-Israel protesters on campus. This includes\u2062 those who have called for terrorism against \u2064Israelis and even yelled \u200c&#8221;kill yourself&#8221; at police officers.<\/p>\n<p>During a recent &#8220;sit-in&#8221; protest\u200b held on the university grounds, Weber, a trial attorney\u200c and lecturer, extended her legal \u200csupport to student protesters who planned to \u200cbe arrested for trespassing near the chancellor&#8217;s office. Weber assured \u200dthem, &#8220;You don&#8217;t have to\u200c worry about finding a lawyer,&#8221; before distributing \u2062$1,000 in bail money to the\u200d students. Subsequently, police arrested numerous protesters \u2064who chanted\u2064 &#8220;Long Live the Intifada&#8221;\u2062 during the\u2064 event. The protesters also clashed with the police, hurling insults such as &#8220;coward,&#8221;\u200b &#8220;pigs,&#8221; &#8220;kill yourself,&#8221; and &#8220;get a real job&#8221; at the responding officers.<\/p>\n<p>Weber&#8217;s backing of these students, who sympathize with terrorists, comes at\u200d a time when anti-Semitic demonstrations\u2062 are escalating on college campuses \u200dacross the\u200d United States. In many instances, \u2064professors and faculty\u200d members have contributed to these demonstrations. For instance, at Cornell University, history professor\u200b Russell Rickford described Hamas&#8217;s assault on the Jewish \u200cstate \u2062on Oct. 7 as &#8220;exhilarating&#8221; and &#8220;energizing&#8221; during an anti-Israel rally.<\/p>\n<p>Weber herself has refused to condemn Hamas.\u2064 Just days before \u200dthe &#8220;sit-in&#8221; protest, she engaged in a\u2062 debate with students during an anti-Israel rally,\u200b where attendees celebrated the &#8220;historic win&#8221; of Hamas&#8217;s attack. When a supporter of Israel asked Weber if she condemns\u200b terrorism, she evaded the \u200bquestion, stating, &#8220;It&#8217;s not a yes or no question.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">New Canary Mission profile. \u2063Rachel Weber, \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jvplive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@jvplive<\/a> organizer &#038; lecturer at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UMassAmherst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@UMassAmherst<\/a>, refused to condemn Hamas\u2019s terror attacks \u200bwhen asked by a pro-Israel \u2064student. Instead, Weber said, &#8216;It\u2019s not a yes \u2062or no question.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fhsZDxjF0V\">https:\/\/t.co\/fhsZDxjF0V<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5myeTaj5nf\">pic.twitter.com\/5myeTaj5nf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Canary Mission\u200c (@canarymission) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/canarymission\/status\/1719059089597071397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 30, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Weber, who\u2064 teaches a class\u2064 on &#8220;abolition theory&#8221; at \u2063the university, did\u200b not respond to a\u2062 request for \u200bcomment. In \u2064a statement sent \u2064to the <em>Washington Free Beacon<\/em>, the university acknowledged that the &#8220;sit-in&#8221; protesters do not \u2062align with its publicly stated positions and policies but recognized the right of students and faculty to demonstrate on \u200ccampus.<\/p>\n<p>Weber has a long history of involvement with anti-Israel organizations. \u2064She is a member\u200b of the National Lawyers Guild, a self-described &#8220;progressive bar association&#8221;\u200c that proudly supports the U.S.\u2063 Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/umass-lecturer-who-refused-to-condemn-terrorism-promises-pro-hamas-protesters-legal-support\/\" title=\"UMass lecturer supports pro-Hamas protesters, vows legal assistance.\">terror-linked group leading boycott campaigns<\/a> against Israel. Weber also highlights her\u2064 work with \u200b&#8221;Palestine Legal,&#8221; a legal defense \u200dgroup that accused Israel of genocide and war crimes \u200dfollowing Hamas&#8217;s \u200battack.\u200d The group\u2063 condemned elected\u2062 officials for\u200c accusing protesters advocating for Palestinian rights of anti-Semitism and support for terrorism.<\/p>\n<p>However, Weber \u200chas\u2064 defended Hamas and its barbaric attack on Israel.\u2063 During her \u200bviral exchange with a pro-Israel student, Weber argued\u2063 that\u200b one&#8217;s perception of\u2064 the attack depends\u200c on &#8220;when you start the clock.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Reality all \u200bbegins \u2063when you start the clock. And so, if you \u2063start the clock on Saturday, the reality is\u200d going \u200cto look one way,&#8221; Weber told the student. &#8220;If you\u200b start the clock, you know, like, weeks prior, it&#8217;s going to sound a different way. If you\u200b start the clock in 1948, it looks a\u2063 different way. We have to acknowledge that.&#8221; Hamas&#8217;s attack\u2064 resulted in \u2063the deaths of at least 1,400 Israelis, including \u200cinnocent\u200d women and children.<\/p>\n<p>Weber obtained the bail money she distributed to student protesters at the &#8220;sit-in&#8221; protest from the Western Mass\u2064 Bailout Project, an organization that posts bail for\u2064 accused criminals &#8220;without judgment with respect to charges.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We \u200care led by abolitionist policies and \u200cbelieve in the importance\u200b of centering the\u200d voices and\u2062 experiences of those who \u2062are \u2064currently and formerly incarcerated,&#8221; the \u2064group states on \u2063its website. &#8220;Together, we can build a \u2062future without\u2063 mass incarceration.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Western Mass Bailout Project\u200d did not respond to\u2063 a request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can universities strike a balance between \u2063protecting freedom of expression and ensuring that\u2063 it is not used as a platform for promoting violence\u2063 or hate speech<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Students to protest and express their opinions. However, the \u200duniversity also emphasized that it does not condone any form of violence or hate speech.<\/p>\n<p>The growing trend \u2063of\u200d anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses is \u200bconcerning and must be addressed. While freedom of speech \u200bis a\u2064 fundamental right, it should not be used as a platform to support or encourage violence or terrorism. It is \u2063essential for universities to\u2062 create an environment that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-college-rankings-show-free-speech-is-no-longer-relevant-at-harvard\/\" title=\"New rankings reveal Harvard's disregard for free speech.\">fosters open dialogue<\/a> \u200dand respectful debate, rather than promoting radical ideologies.<\/p>\n<p>By offering free \u200blegal representation to students who advocate for terrorism against Israelis, Rachel Weber \u200bis undermining the principles of justice and the rule\u200d of law. It is deeply troubling that a \u200clecturer, who should prioritize critical thinking\u200b and \u2062academic\u200c integrity, is \u2062supporting individuals who promote violence and\u200d hate. Weber&#8217;s refusal \u200bto condemn Hamas further raises questions\u2063 about her own beliefs and \u2064ideology.<\/p>\n<p>It is not just Weber who is contributing to this troubling trend. Across college campuses\u2063 in the United States, there have been instances where professors and faculty members have actively \u2062participated in \u200dor endorsed anti-Israel demonstrations. \u200dThe case of history professor Russell Rickford at \u2064Cornell University praising Hamas&#8217;s assault on Israel is a clear example of \u200cthis. These incidents demonstrate the need for universities to\u200d monitor and address the actions and statements \u200cof their staff \u200bto \u2063ensure \u2063a balanced and\u2064 inclusive educational environment.<\/p>\n<p>Universities have a responsibility to promote diversity of thought and respect for \u200ball students, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds. While freedom of expression should be protected, it should not be used as a shield for promoting violence \u200dor hate speech. Students \u200dmust be encouraged to engage in informed and respectful discussions, rather \u200bthan becoming radicalized or supporting extremist ideologies.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the offer of free legal representation by \u2062Rachel Weber\u200d to students advocating terrorism against \u200cIsraelis is deeply concerning. \u200bIt highlights the need for universities to promote an environment\u2063 of \u200ccritical\u200b thinking, respectful dialogue, and academic integrity.\u2062 By refusing to condemn Hamas and\u2063 supporting individuals who promote violence, Weber undermines the principles of justice and the rule of law. \u2062It \u2062is essential for universities to address and counteract the growing \u200dtrend of anti-Israel sentiment on campuses, ensuring that all students feel safe and respected.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>legal advice to students who support terrorism against Israelis. Rachel Weber, the lecturer, assured students that they need not worry about finding a lawyer. This comes after her controversial debate on the recent Hamas attack on Israel. (55 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2020,"featured_media":2084441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2084440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2020"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2084440"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084440\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2084441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2084440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2084440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2084440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}