A student who defended the American flag at a North Carolina campus Tuesday from an anti-Israel mob, said the protesters would have had to yank the flag from him over his "dead body."
Anti-Israel protesters targeted the American flag on The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's quad — which had been flying at half-mast after four Charlotte officers were killed in the line of duty. At one point, they replaced it with a Palestinian flag – enraging students and inspiring members from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to take action.
"I don't understand how people can act like this," said Dan Stompel, a junior studying political science at the university. He was one of over a few dozen students who stood up to a mob of hundreds as they tried to desecrate the American flag. Stompel and his fellow classmates held the flag for over an hour until police were able to clear the protest and safely hoist it back on the flagpole. All the while, the students experienced profanity and middle fingers from protesters, along with bottles, rocks, and water being thrown at them.
"We're looking at every direction. If stuff was flying in, we would say, ‘Heads up.’ We would cover each other. We would look out for other people… And it did hurt our arms. It was like an ‘arm day’ [workout] for me that day. There was no gym happening that day afterwards. It was exhausting. It was beautiful moment," Stopel said in an interview with Fox News Digital Wednesday.
"It shows that, …based on the people there, nice, normal, strong boys protecting America's flag. There's nothing more patriotic, nothing more genuine, nothing more inspiring than that," he said.
Fox News Digital's Hannah Grossman contributed to this update.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Israel President Isaac Herzog on Thursday condemned the antisemitic protests on U.S. college campuses in a message of support to Jewish communities around the world.
"The people of Israel are with you. We hear you. We see the shameless hostility and threats. We feel the insult, the breach of faith and breach of friendship. We share the apprehension and concern," Herzog said in a video message.
The Israeli leader condemned institutions of higher education that have been "contaminated by hatred and antisemitism fueled by arrogance and ignorance, and driven by moral failings and disinformation."
"We watch in horror as the atrocities of October 7th against Israel are celebrated and justified," he said. More than 1,200 Israelis were brutally slaughtered in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel led by Hamas terrorists.
"In the face of violence, harassment and intimidation, as masked cowards smash windows and barricade doors, as they assault the truth and manipulate history, together we stand strong. Together we will continue building a flourishing, life-affirming nation," Herzog said.
"As they chant for intifada and genocide, we will work — together — to free our hostages held by Hamas, and fight for civil liberties and our right to believe and belong, for the right to live proudly, peacefully and securely, as Jews, as Israelis — anywhere."
"In the face of this terrifying resurgence of antisemitism: Do not fear. Stand proud. Stand strong for your freedom. Israel stands with you. Israel cares for you. We care for you. We are here for you."
Law enforcement officers detain an anti-Israel agitator at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), in Los Angeles, May 2, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
Police removed barricades and began to detain some protesters at the anti-Israel encampment on UCLA's campus Thursday morning.
Hundreds of officers moved in on the encampment from both sides of Royce Hall after a standoff overnight as police gathered in preparation for the raid, which comes amid a nationwide movement calling on college and universities to divest from Israel. Local FOX affiliate KTTV reported that officers met heavy resistance as they approached the camp.
Protesters attempted to resist by shining bright flashlights into the eyes of officers, KTTV reported. Several people were seen being detained by police and hauled away with their hands zip-tied behind their backs.
It is unclear how many people have been detained.
Elsewhere, police in New Hampshire said they made 90 arrests and took down tents at Dartmouth College and officers in Oregon came onto the campus at Portland State University as school officials sought to end the occupation of the library that started Monday.
New York police burst into a building occupied by war protesters at Columbia University on Tuesday night, breaking up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school and making 40-50 arrests.
At the University of Wisconsin in Madison, police clashed with protesters on Wednesday and four officers were injured, including a state trooper who was hit in the head with a skateboard. Four protesters were charged with battering law enforcement.
Meanwhile at Brown University in Rhode Island, school officials reached an agreement to end the encampment there by promising to hold a vote on divestment from Israel.
The Associated Press contributed to this update.
Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds his hands up during a rally on May 1, 2024 at Avflight Saginaw in Freeland, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Former President Trump on Thursday called out President Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for their silence as police confront anti-Israel protesters on UCLA's campus.
"THIS IS A RADICAL LEFT REVOLUTION TAKING PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY," Trump posted on his social media network, Truth Social.
"WHERE IS CROOKED JOE BIDEN? WHERE IS GOVERNOR NEWSCUM? THE DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY IS FROM THE LEFT, NOT FROM THE RIGHT!!!" he said, referring to Biden and Newsom by his favorite nicknames for them.
Biden has not issued a direct statement on the protests, but the White House on Tuesday released a statement from assistant press secretary Andrew Bates that condemned the occupation of Hamilton Hall by protesters at Columbia University.
"President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life," Bates said. "He condemns the use of the term 'intifada,' as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days."
Newsom issued a statement on the violence seen at UCLA's campus on Wednesday, after about 100 counter-protesters brawled with those gathered at the anti-Israel encampment for hours.
"I condemn the violence at UCLA last night," Newsom said. "The law is clear: The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus. Those who engage in illegal behavior must be held accountable for their actions — including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion."
UCLA law student Matthew Weinberg spoke out against the violence witnessed on his school's campus, where police are attempting to clear an unlawful anti-Israel encampment.
Weinberg called the protest a "disgrace" and said tear gas and flashbangs deployed by police reminded him of a "war zone."
"It demonstrates to me that this school is run by a bunch of cowards," Weinberg said. "It demonstrates to me a lack of moral clarity, and it also demonstrates to me the degradation of our society."
He criticized the school administration for permitting the encampment to remain on campus as long as it has while Jewish students were made to feel unsafe.
"There's no doubt in my mind that they are owed a tuition reimbursement. I have a friend at law school, she was pepper sprayed. There are a number of other students that were physically assaulted. The school has done absolutely nothing," he said, adding that an apology would be "insufficient."
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