PHOENIX — The Israel-Hamas war is the latest free-speech flashpoint on Arizona's university campuses, reflecting tensions roiling colleges across the country.
A group called Students for Justice in Palestine plans rallies Thursday as part of a national "Day of Resistance" at Arizona State University in Tempe and the University of Arizona in Tucson. (Update: The Tucson rally was canceled.)
A college Republican leader has called for disciplinary action against the rally organizers.
But universities say the rallies can go forward.
Here's what we know:
Some call Hamas attack 'a historic win'
The National Students for Justice in Palestine, which says it represents the Palestinian student movement, describes the Hamas massacres of more than 1,000 Israelis, from babies to grandmothers, as "a historic win for the Palestinian resistance."
An Instagram post promoting the rallies signs off with, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!" The rallying cry, used by Hamas and other terrorist organizations, symbolizes the destruction of the State of Israel.
An officer of the ASU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine declined to comment on the national group's statement.
"We are in no position to criticize Palestine's only real defender, which is Hamas," Ben Phillips, an ASU junior majoring in political science, said in an interview.
"They have used every nonviolent means at their disposal. If that means using violence to defend themselves, that is just."
Phillips added: "Our group is 100% for peace."
He said ASU approves its on-campus events. About 50 people are expected at the Memorial Union rally at 11 a.m. Thursday.
College Republicans call for penalty
Isaac Humrich, the chairman of Arizona College Republicans, called on ASU Wednesday to take disciplinary action against the students who organized the Tempe rally.
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An image used to promote the event, he said, "suggests that you are celebrating the eradication of the Jewish people in the state of Israel.
"This is clearly in violation of ASU's mission statement," said Humrich, an ASU junior majoring in political science.
"I don't think genocide advocacy is what Arizona State University stands for."
Humrich said the response he got from ASU was "pretty boilerplate."
"It was 'Arizona State University supports the right of students to express their First Amendment rights.'"
ASU, U of A respond to rallies
Both ASU and the University of Arizona issued statements about the rallies.
In an emailed statement to 12News, ASU said university police would be present:
"The university is aware of a student-led demonstration planned for our Tempe campus on Thursday. Students have organized and promoted the event themselves.
"Arizona State University neither endorses nor restricts opinions voiced at campus demonstrations. Individual students and student organizations must adhere to the university Code of Conduct in exercising their rights.
"The safety of our students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community is paramount. ASU Police will be present to ensure everyone's rights to non-violent expression are respected.
"As was reaffirmed this summer to the Arizona Legislature and the wider community, the university wholeheartedly respects and protects the right to free speech – and free speech means everyone on all sides of an issue.
"People on our campuses have the right to peacefully express their opinions, even if those expressions become uncomfortable or offend others."
U of A hit 'especially hard'
In a message to the U of A posted Wednesday evening, President Robert Robbins said of the Hamas massacre: "Because the University of Arizona has one of the largest populations of Jewish students in our country, this tragedy hits our community especially hard.
"We understand that a national student organization with a chapter at the University of Arizona called Students for Justice in Palestine, or SJP, is planning a demonstration on campus tomorrow. The national organization has made statements endorsing the actions of Hamas in Israel, which are, of course, antithetical to our university's values.
"As a public university, we have both the obligation and the opportunity to support and defend free speech and open dialogue. We recognize that the First Amendment protects speech and demonstrations, even for ideas and opinions that most find objectionable or hateful.
"I want to be clear that SJP is not speaking on behalf of our university. But, they have the constitutional right to hold their views and to express them in a safe environment."
Channeling rage into pro-Israel rally
Shy-Lee Ben Ezer is at the "rage part" of the five stages of grief.
A cousin died in combat against Hamas. So did her brother's best friend. The bodies of three school friends were recovered at a kibbutz where more than 100 people were slaughtered.
"I'm very mad," she said outside ASU's Memorial Union.
"I cannot understand the barbarism. I'm very mad at the propaganda. And I'm mad because it was really a lack of humanity. I truly don't understand how human beings can do it."
Ben Ezer is an ASU student and an Israeli Army veteran who moved to Arizona four years ago.
She channeled her rage into a pro-Israel rally she helped organize Wednesday evening at the Tempe campus. About 200 people showed up.
"I hope that people will find a way to process their grief," she said.
"A friend of mine ... told me that he found out his friend died from a very traumatic video. None of us are even able to process it because you get another story and another terrible news and another thing and another thing and you just can't. It's so much in so little time."
Should Students for Justice in Palestine be allowed to hold a rally?
"Yes, 100%, they should be allowed to do it," Ben Ezer said.
But she won't be there.
"I don't want to put myself in a place that I don't feel safe. And I don't feel safe."
ASU responds to rally
Arizona State University released a statement Thursday responding to both events and the "student-led demonstration" held at the Tempe campus.
"Students organized and promoted the event themselves. Arizona State University neither endorses nor restricts opinions voiced at campus demonstrations. Individual students and student organizations must adhere to the university Code of Conduct in exercising their rights. The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community is paramount. ASU Police will be present to ensure everyone’s rights to non-violent expression are respected.
As was reaffirmed this summer to the Arizona Legislature and the wider community, the university wholeheartedly respects and protects the right to free speech – and free speech means everyone on all sides of an issue. People on our campuses have the right to peacefully express their opinions, even if those expressions become uncomfortable or offend others.
Students and student organizations do not speak for Arizona State University. The university’s Oct. 10 statement can be found here."
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