“From the River to the Sea” Graffiti Found at UMass Amherst

Graffiti stating “From the River to the Sea” and “Free Palestine” was found at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on April 19. The Stop Antisemitism.org watchdog tweeted a video of the graffiti, which was found in a tunnel on campus. Stop Antisemitism.org tweeted to University President Marty Meehan, “Please have this removed as dozens of your Jewish students have contacted us out of safety concerns!”

📍Amherst MA – used as a battle cry for the elimination of the Jewish state, students at @UMassAmherst had to walk by “From the River to the Sea” graffiti yesterday.@MartyMeehan please have this removed as dozens of your Jewish students have contacted us out of safety concerns! pic.twitter.com/dlS5TY8aSP

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 20, 2021

Location South Tunnel, one of the walkway arteries on campus for students to get around. pic.twitter.com/wZAc3J82aO

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 20, 2021

A university spokesperson told the Journal that the graffiti has been removed and the matter is being investigated.

“This anti-Israel graffiti incident at UMass is a blatant act of intimidation against Jewish students on campus,” Anti-Defamation League New England Regional Director Robert Trestan said in a statement to the Journal. “The message of ‘from the River to the Sea’ is divisive and an implicit negation of the Jewish state. We hope administrators will investigate this incident and ensure that the campus remains a safe and welcoming environment for all students.”

UMass Hillel said in a statement posted to Facebook that the “From the River to the Sea” graffiti was particularly unsettling to students because it is seen as “a call for an end of the State of Israel.” “While we support free speech, we condemn the use of inflammatory language and the defacement of public or private property,” the statement read. “And we continue to call for a constructive approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through promotion of dialogue, working for peace, and affirmation of the humanity of both Israelis and Palestinians.”