Jewish USC student stands up to anti-Israel activists at school, refuses to be silenced
Mark Rayant, a graduate student at USC, is set to receive his master’s degree this year but will not be able to enjoy a traditional graduation ceremony like his peers due to the disruptive presence of anti-Israel agitators on campus. USC made history by becoming the first major university to cancel its main graduation ceremony in response to radical protesters, setting off a trend that was followed by other prestigious universities such as Emory and Columbia.
During a weekend of turmoil, Los Angeles police, donned in riot gear, surrounded the campus to dismantle an anti-Israel encampment where students and outside protesters were demanding the severing of financial ties with Israel. A group formed by students called the USC Divest from Death Coalition issued a list of demands, including a call for “no policing on campus,” “full amnesty” for protesters, and the termination of study abroad programs in Israel.
The removal of the encampment marked the second time police had to clear protesters from the campus in a month. Mark Rayant, who had come to campus to take graduation photos, found himself being followed by anti-Israel agitators as he roamed the grounds.
“Their goal is to intimidate, bully, and instill fear in us to silence our voices. But we won’t allow it,” Rayant expressed his resolve in not succumbing to the intimidation tactics.
In a display of courage, Rayant directly confronted the agitators and asserted that the Jewish community on campus will not be silenced by such radical behavior. Despite feeling harassed and targeted, he stood his ground, asserting his right to celebrate his graduation after years of hard work and dedication to his studies and community service.
Disheartened by the actions of the agitators, Rayant plans on reporting the alleged student involved to campus authorities for his disruptive behavior. Drawing on the experiences of Holocaust survivors, Rayant highlighted the unprecedented scale of hatred and open hostility towards Jewish individuals, emphasizing the need to stand up against such bigotry.
Rayant condemned the radical ideologies and values being espoused by outside forces that have influenced students at USC, turning them against American values. He highlighted the need to address and counteract these Marxist influences that seek to undermine and dismantle the foundations of American society.
The turmoil at USC escalated when an anti-Israel student was appointed as valedictorian, only to have her speech omitted due to safety concerns. This decision led to an outpouring of vile antisemitism across the university, prompting the cancelation of the main graduation ceremony amid ongoing protests and accusations of the university capitulating to extremist demands.
Disappointed by the university’s handling of the situation, Rayant urged fellow students and concerned citizens to voice their opposition to such behavior, calling on them to reach out to leaders and representatives to condemn the unjust treatment and take a stand against the harassment targeting the Jewish community on campus. He emphasized the importance of speaking up and showing that those seeking to disrupt democracy are vastly outnumbered by individuals committed to upholding core democratic values.
