“Israel Inspires” Rally at Rutgers
Charles Johnson
Thu Oct 9, 2003 at 5:47 pm PDT • Views: 181
A pro-Israel rally titled “Israel Inspires” tonight at Rutgers University is going to have police protection, according to Newsday: Security measures in place for pro-Israel rally. (Hat tip: David H.)
The “Israel Inspires” rally on Rutgers’ Busch campus in Piscataway was organized by Jewish groups in response to recent anti-Semitic vandalism at Rutgers and to a pro-Palestinian conference scheduled for this weekend in New Brunswick.
Gov. James E. McGreevey and U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine were scheduled to speak at the Israel rally.
Trooper Steve Jones, a New Jersey State Police spokesman, said troopers would be visible at the rally.
“We’re going to have protection, obviously, for the governor, as well as an additional uniformed presence,” Jones said.
A Rutgers spokeswoman, Pam Orel, also said steps were being taken to prepare for counter-demonstrators, although she declined to elaborate.
As many as 2,000 people were expected at the rally, which was organized by groups including the Rutgers Hillel Foundation, and is intended to send a message of support for Israel and for the democratic values the groups say Israel shares with the U.S.
As many as 100 counter-demonstrators were expected to show up, said Aref Assaf, a Palestinian activist and member of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Assaf said voicing support for Israel alone does nothing to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together for peace.
LGF readers in New Jersey: please let us know how the rally went.
Frank says: