Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups clashed at the University of Minnesota on Friday during an Israeli prayer rally near Coffman Memorial Union.
The gathering initially featured flag-bearing and chanting from both sides, but tensions escalated when verbal altercations occurred, prompting police intervention to maintain peace.
This contentious incident followed a recent resolution where a pro-Palestinian encampment agreed to dismantle after negotiations with university officials.
Jon Greenspan, a member of Students Supporting Israel, described the rally as an expression of Jewish pride on campus to demonstrate diverse perspectives regarding Israel.
Meanwhile, at Northrop Plaza, another rally was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, representing a different viewpoint within the Jewish student community.
Mirabi Dornfest, a junior and member of an Anti-Zionist Jewish student group, emphasized solidarity with Palestinian students while advocating for Jewish values.
Dornfest expressed frustration over the university’s approach to discussions on Jewish student safety and inclusion.
University administrators acknowledged ongoing dialogues with student groups, including UMN Divest Coalition, and noted efforts to arrange discussions involving subsets of Jewish members seeking engagement with campus leadership amidst ongoing global conflicts.
