George Washington (GW) University in Washington, D.C. has temporarily suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter following the group’s projection of anti-Israel messages onto the campus library last month.
GW found that SJP had violated university policies by projecting messages onto the Gelman Library on Oct. 24, which included “GW the blood of Palestine is on your hands” and “Your tuition is funding genocide in Gaza.”
The temporary suspension will take effect immediately, according to GW.
“SJP cannot sponsor or organize on-campus activities on university property or use university facilities, including indoor and outdoor spaces available for reservation through the university; this prohibition is in effect for the next 90 days,” it stated.
“After 90 days, there will be continued restrictions around SJP’s use of university facilities and hosted activities through the end of the academic year,” the university added.
An SJP representative said the group was disappointed but not surprised by GW’s decision, saying that the university has shown “unwavering support” for Zionist students on campus, GW Hatchet reported.
“GW can continue to try their repressive tactics, they can continue to try to suppress our movement,” the representative told the newspaper. “But that movement will continue regardless.”
University President Ellen Granberg has said that students, faculty, and staff have the right to express their views and be vocal but “must do so within the boundaries of the law and our university policies.”
Ms. Granberg also said that SJP’s messages did not contribute to “the environment of rigorous debate and discussions” expected in GW. She added that officials had immediately removed the projections.
Israel–Hamas War Sparks Protests
The ongoing Israel–Hamas war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’s Oct. 7 deadly terror attack on Israeli border communities, has triggered protests and debates at some U.S. universities.
The suspension means that the two groups are no longer eligible to hold events on campus or receive funding from the university.
However, the university said the suspension could be lifted if they demonstrate a commitment to compliance with university policies and engage in consultations with officials at the leadership level.
Some chapters of SJP have faced accusations of endorsing Hamas explicitly and employing anti-Semitic slogans, drawing criticism from politicians. JVP identifies itself as a Jewish “anti-Zionist” organization, a political stance viewed by some as anti-Semitic.
State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said on Oct. 24 that SJP had released a toolkit that refers to Hamas’s attack as “resistance” and claims “Palestinian students in exile are part of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement.”
Mr. Rodrigues said there are at least two universities with active SJP chapters, but he did not specify which universities or if there would be any repercussions if they failed to comply with the order.
