The Setonian, NJ
Sept 30 2004
Protestors criticize Peres’ visit, honorary degree conferral
Elizabeth Hendler
Editor in Chief
[email protected]
Article Body >>
Activists from New Jersey Solidarity, a Rutgers-based group,
protested former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres’ speech
Wednesday outside of the university gates. About 10 individuals
unaffiliated with Seton Hall held signs reading `Shimon Peres = War
Criminal’ and waved a `Free Palestine’ flag.
Peres is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
He spoke as part of a World Leaders Forum held in the Walsh Gymnasium
at 4 p.m. He was conferred an honorary degree.
The group was told to leave campus, where it first wanted to protest
on the university Green. Patrick Linfante, director of Public Safety
and Security, asked them to leave, saying Seton Hall sits on private
property and is not required to allow outsiders to protest.
`This is a ticketed event with invited guests, students,
administrators, staff and faculty,’ Linfante said. `Mr. Peres is here
to have a conversation with our community. If New Jersey Solidarity
wants a conversation with Mr. Peres, they can have him visit their
events.’
For the event, Seton Hall had additional security help from South
Orange police, New Jersey state police, the Essex county sheriff and
the county prosecutor.
A county narcotics and counter-terrorism task force was also on hand.
A state police helicopter surveyed the campus. Peres arrived via
motorcade.
One protester was arrested soon after arriving on campus because of
an outstanding warrant.
Protesters allege Peres is responsible for the Qana bombing in
Lebanon and occupation and expulsion of Palestinians from holy land.
They also critized Peres’ comments that the mass murder of Armenians
in 1915 was a tragedy `but not a genocide,’ made in a Turkish
newspaper in 2001.
`Palestinians, all arabs, all Muslims, are treated as terrorists in
this country,’ protester Noel Winkler said. `We support the right of
return to the homeland. A two-state solution is not a means for
lasting peace.’
Several protesters were Catholics who said the university is honoring
a politician who is responsible for violence against Palestinians.
`In America, it’s hard to understand this situation because we did
the same thing (to Native Americans), taking their land and killing
them,’ former South Orange resident Mary Costa said.
Protester David Hungerford, a teacher in Newark, said he believes the
Nobel Peace Prize has lost its value as it has been awarded to people
like Peres.
Vincent Fisher, of Teaneck, commented, `This is one of the most
pressing moral imperatives of our time.’
He alleges the university chose Peres to speak for political reasons.
`Catholic Palestinians are suffering horribly under occupation,’ he
said, noting the bombing of the Catholic Bethlehem University in 2002
in the West Bank.
Sophomore Ibrahim Khaddash commented, `The protest shows the students
he’s a war criminal, and he shouldn’t be honored by a Catholic
university.’
He said both Muslims and Christian Palestinians have died in bombings
like those in Lebanon in 1997.
Junior Romi Saleh is in favor of a two-state plan and was glad to see
Palestinian supporters outside of the campus gates.
`I’m pro-freedom,’ he said. `I support everyone enjoying the quality
of life we have in this country. That means no occupation.’
Caity Fodor contributed to this article.
Elizabeth Hendler can be reached at [email protected].