Religious Chants At UC Davis Debate Raise Concerns After Jewish Fraternity House Vandalized
DAVIS (CBS13) — Religious chants were shouted during a political debate at UC Davis—it started after pro-Palestinian students passed a resolution to boycott Israel.
Two days later, a Jewish fraternity house was vandalized with anti-semitic graffiti.
The chants are associated with Muslim prayer, and with Islamic terrorism, but you wouldn't expect to hear them in a student debate at UC Davis. They were shouted at Israel supporters when they objected to a student-passed resolution to boycott Israel.
Karim Omar was raised Muslim and speaks Arabic
"I'm pretty disappointed about this," he said. "Allahu akbar—all it means is 'God is great.'"
But was it used as an attack against Jewish students on campus?
"I don't see it as a religious attack," he said. "I think it's to show the conviction."
Two days later, vandals spraypainted swastikas on a Jewish fraternity house. Some, say it's spreading hate.
"I just think that's beyond rude and its most embarrassing especially if it's a student from Davis because we are kind of known for being more liberal," said Becky Duncan.
Others call it retaliation.
The fraternity has since installed surveillance cameras. The brothers didn't want to be interviewed again for the story, nor did students affiliated with the group that passed the resolution.
University spokesman Andy Fell says it comes down to freedom of speech.
"We welcome all points of view here. we expect people to express themselves respectfully and debate in a dignified way," he said.