Among the myriad of narratives surrounding anti-Israel protests on university campuses, one aspect remains frustratingly neglected: the extent to which the sentiments expressed by these students reflect a broader disdain for the United States itself—perhaps even more so than for Israel.
At Temple University in Philadelphia, members of the radical faction known as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) have been caught on a group chat revealing a chilling ambition: the dismantling of both America and capitalism. This revelation raises an eyebrow—or perhaps more than one—at the audacity of student groups feeling empowered enough to declare such intentions publicly.
As reported by MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute:
During a webinar held on April 24, 2025, to commemorate the 71st birthday of Mumia Abu-Jamal—currently serving time for the 1981 murder of a police officer—Rishi Arun, the President of SJP at Temple University, proclaimed, “It is our job to destroy imperialism, to destroy the United States […] by organizing in a way that actively undermines and destabilizes the legitimacy and power of the state.” Arun has been a key figure in organizing significant student events, including the 2024 Pennsylvania State encampment titled “Twisted Laws: Mumia, Universities & Palestine.”
Mohammed Khatib, the European coordinator for the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (which is designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S. and Canada), further fanned the flames of this rhetoric by suggesting that the liberation of Palestine would serve as a substantial blow to the United States. He stated, “If Palestine is liberated, this means this is a nail to dismantle the United States of America.”
The webinar included a live call from Mumia Abu-Jamal himself, who lauded the pro-Palestine movement as the most significant freedom struggle in contemporary America.
Watch the video:
Temple University Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) President Rishi Arun during a Panel Honoring Cop-Killer Mumia Abu-Jamal: It Is Our Job to Destroy the U.S.; Samidoun Official Mohammed Khatib: Liberating Palestine Will Help Dismantle America pic.twitter.com/i3DszQMEzm
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) May 6, 2025
Temple University, established by Baptists in the late 1800s, surely envisioned a different kind of discourse back then. One wonders—was this the legacy they intended to cultivate?
