(KRON) — A conflict between a visitor speaker who was invited to San Jose State University and scholar activists ended with the college slicing the speaker’s presentation on the Israeli-Palestinian battle short.
The speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Blutinger, a professor of Jewish Studies and History at California State University Long Beach. His lecture, titled, “Constructing a Just Solution: Where Israelis and Palestinians Go From Here,” was sponsored by a grant from Jewish Silicon Valley.
According to a flier for the occasion, Blutinger was slated to speak about “finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” explaining “the road to the present situation,” and “possible paths forward.”
SJSU officers informed KRON4 that the visitor speaker made a presentation in a classroom at Sweeney Hall on Monday afternoon. “A group of demonstrators moved into the hallway near the classroom. An altercation took place in the hallway involving a faculty member and demonstrators. The decision was made by university administration to end the presentation. SJSU’s University Police Department safely removed the speaker and the students attending the presentation. The demonstrators then moved to the exterior of the building.”
University officers didn’t identify the faculty member who was concerned within the hallway altercation.
No one was injured and no arrests have been made, in keeping with SJSU officers.
The Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area informed KRON4 that Blutinger was making an attempt to show college students a few two-state resolution for Israel and Palestine.
“A planned protest against guest speaker Prof. Jeffrey Blutinger’s talk on achieving peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution escalated into violence. Their message? To show that ‘Zionists are not welcome here.’ To ensure the safety of Prof. Blutinger, an armed escort was necessary for his departure. The intimidation tactics employed against a Jewish speaker are deeply troubling,” JCRC Bay Area wrote.
https://www.kron4.com/information/bay-area/san-jose-state-university-faculty-members-scuffle-with-activists-cuts-presentation-short/
