West

Stanford Jewish students on taking photo of man with Hamas headband on campus: 'We were just in shock'

Published

2 weeks ago

May 5, 2024

A viral image of a man on the Stanford University campus wearing a headband that looks similar to the one worn by Hamas terrorist fighters was taken by two Jewish students concerned the school has not cracked down enough on antisemitic behavior.

The two friends, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said they were walking near White Plaza, the center of the northern California campus where anti-Israel protesters have set up an encampment, on Friday when they spotted someone sitting down at a picnic table.

After moving closer to the unidentified person, they realized the headband he was wearing was the same type worn by members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.

UNC STUDENT WHO DEFENDED AMERICAN FLAG FROM CAMPUS MOB ‘HONORED TO GIVE BACK TO THE NATION’

An anti-Israel agitator on Stanford University’s campus Friday. The university has submitted the photo to the FBI. (Getty Images; Obtained by Fox News Digital)

“We were just in shock that somebody could be like that in the middle of our campus,” one of the students told Fox News Digital. “I only went up to take the photo because I was there with my friend.

“We thought about going up to him and saying something, but then we figured it wasn’t worth it and, if anything, it might just be dangerous.”

The image of the man sitting at the table wearing the green headband with Arabic writing and a face covering quickly made the rounds on social media, catching the attention of university administrators.

“We have received many expressions of concern about a photo circulating on social media of an individual on White Plaza who appeared to be wearing a green headband similar to those worn by members of Hamas,” the school said in a statement Wednesday. “

We find this deeply disturbing, as Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States government. We have not been able to identify the individual but have forwarded the photo to the FBI.”

NYPD WARNS PROTESTERS A SEATTLE-STYLE ‘CHAZ’ WON’T BE TOLERATED

An anti-Israel agitator on Stanford University’s campus Friday, April 26, 2024. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Fox News Digital has reached out to the university. The FBI’s San Francisco field office declined to comment on the matter.

Like many college campuses across the country, Stanford has seen pro-Palestinian protesters either straddle or cross the line of free speech with rhetoric some consider antisemitic over Israel’s military offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip following the terror group’s deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israeli communities.

“People can disagree with things, and that’s OK. We’re at a university,” the second student who snapped the image told Fox News Digital.

He noted that some of the protesters aren’t even able to articulate their reasons for opposing Israel.

“It’s just very frustrating. You ask people where Israel and Palestine are on a map. They won’t even know where it is,” he said. “If you’re in that tent (encampment), you should know what you’re advocating for.”

More concerning to them was that someone could wear a headband worn by a designated terrorist group on an American college campus.

Both students said they want Stanford administrators to take a more aggressive stand to stamp out speech that incites violence.

An anti-Israel agitator at Stanford University near a pro-Palestinian encampment. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Palestinian members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, take part in a gathering Jan. 31, 2016, in Gaza City to pay tribute to their fellow militants who died after a tunnel collapsed in the Gaza Strip. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is definitely tough to be a Jewish student on campus now,” one of them said. “It’s tough to see your peers, some of whom either willingly spewing hate or knowingly doing stuff that is wrong, but others are kind of following along because it’s what they think is right.”

In another statement to Fox News Digital about the protests at college campuses, the FBI said it was in “close contact with state and local law enforcement partners and, as we do in the normal course of business, we will share any information regarding potential threats.

“We respect the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, and the FBI investigates individuals who violate federal law through violence or other criminal activity,” the agency said.

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San Francisco, CA

Bay Bridge closes eastbound lanes due to fire, officials say

Published

3 mins ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Bay Bridge closes eastbound lanes due to fire, officials say

Crews responded to the fire shortly after 3 p.m., he said, and were still engaged in “an aggressive firefight” nearly an hour later.

“We’ve got about 40 firefighters on the island attempting to reach this fire in steep terrain and high winds,” he said.

Fire boats from both San Francisco and Alameda County were also dispatched to the scene, Schorr added.

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Denver, CO

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says final goodbye to his mother, Sally

Published

17 mins ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says final goodbye to his mother, Sally

Sally Johnston, mother of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and co-owner of the Christiania Lodge at Vail, passed away May 17, with the mayor joining her for a final goodbye.

The city leader announced his mom’s passing in a LinkedIn post on Saturday.

“Yesterday we said the final good bye to my mom,” Johnston wrote. He depicted her as selfless, joyful and “a tireless force for goodness.”

Sally Johnston grew up in Port Leyden, N.Y., alongside three sisters. Her father worked as a school principal, while her mother was an arts and music teacher, according to a 2010 article in the Vail Daily.

She followed in their footsteps — teaching music in Boston in the 1960s, her son Mike recalled in his social media post. There, she spearheaded a Head Start program, the Vail Daily reports.

She married her husband, Paul Ross Johnston, in 1970 — the former mayor of Vail, who passed away in 2015. The pair bought a boutique hotel in Vail in 1976.

With her experience in education and psychology, Sally Johnston served as a board member at Third Way Center, a nonprofit that helps youths resolve trauma. She also had a spot on the Vail Mountain School Board and was involved with the Vail Religious Foundation.

“She loved people for their beauty and their brokenness alike, which always had the power to make each of us feel unafraid, unashamed, perfect again — the way we were once before the world taught us to doubt,” Johnston wrote. “She changed my world, and she convinced me with a ferocity I will never surrender that we can all change the world, because I watched her do it every day.”

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Seattle, WA

Surging Pride seek 1st victory in Seattle

Published

23 mins ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Surging Pride seek 1st victory in Seattle

By Kyle Foley

Orlando Sentinel Correspondent

The Orlando Pride will be out in Seattle on Sunday looking to make it 10 games in a row undefeated, including a six-game winning streak.

Vying for the top spot in the NWSL, the Pride (6-0-3, 21 points) will take on the Seattle Reign FC (2-6-1, 7 points) at Lumen Field (Bally Sports Florida, 6).

The Pride have a 2-7-7 record against the Reign and have never won in Seattle.

“I think Seattle’s a really good team. We respect them a lot,” Pride midfielder Morgan Gautrat said. “For us, obviously, we’ve been in a good run and we’re on a roll and I feel like for us, we’re in a confident space and I think we’re just looking to go cross country and get three points.”

While Barbra Banda and the Orlando attack have rightfully been the center of attention for the Pride, it has been their defense that has been most impressive. Orlando has allowed just seven goals all season, the second-fewest in NWSL, despite struggling with injuries.

Head coach Seb Hines said he believes that such success is the product of squad depth and the ability of players to fill in holes whenever they are called upon.

“We can rely on anyone who has to go in and do a job in those positions,” Hines said. “So it’s made easier for me because our principles, our culture has been terrific and they do whatever it takes to get the three points at the end of the game.”