USC Graduate Student Faces Anti-Semitic Harassment Amidst Campus Protests

Rayant, a USC graduate student who is also a Jewish activist, has faced anti-Semitic harassment on campus leading up to his graduation ceremony. Last month, the main graduation ceremony was cancelled due to protests by radical groups demanding the university cut ties with Israel. One student, selected as valedictorian, called for the end of Israel in social media posts, sparking safety concerns and leading to the cancellation of her speech. Protesters have set up an anti-Israel encampment on campus, calling for the university to cut financial ties with Israel and for police to leave the campus. Rayant confronted two protesters while taking graduation photos on campus, stating that Jews will not be silenced by radicals. He plans to report the alleged student involved to campus officials. Rayant believes that the current wave of anti-Semitic sentiment on campuses across the country represents a “catastrophic failure of leadership”, and encourages others to speak out against it by reaching out to representatives, congresspeople, mayors, and university leaders if they disagree with how the situation is being handled.