Earlier, we reported on the pathetic and disgraceful display being put on this week by pro-Hamas protesters on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).
To quickly recap, demonstrators who were upset over early morning arrests at an attempted encampment took down the American flag at the main campus and replaced it with a Palestinian flag.
Though the agitators were amused, the university's interim chancellor, Lee Roberts, was not. Roberts proceeded to walk to the flag pole himself, remove the Palestinian flag, and re-fly the U.S. flag, to the appreciation of the Jewish students nearby. In another defining moment, Roberts later told reporters that the American flag would continue to fly over the campus as long as he was in charge.
What hasn't been widely reported is what happened once Roberts walked away from the flag pole.
The pro-Hamas radicals proceeded to try and take the U.S. flag down again.
But a student-led group, as it turns out, did not make it easy for them.
Guillermo Estrada, a student at the university, wrote about his experiences in an incredibly powerful thread. Here's his recounting of what happened:
(Thread) Today was a sad yet empowering day at Chapel Hill. When I walked to class, I saw the Palestinian flag raised on our quad flag pole, and was immediately upset at the act that these “protestors” had made. I cannot say I am fully educated on the Israel/Palestine conflict pic.twitter.com/tZrZEOSu8a
— Guillermo Estrada (@estradguillermo) April 30, 2024
...but it upset me that my country's flag was disrespected in order to advocate for another.
Shortly after, Chancellor Roberts came with police officers to hang the flag once again. They were met with profanity, middle fingers, thrown bottles, rocks, and water.
When the flag was raised once again, the greek community began singing the National anthem. As the Chancellor left, the quad erupted into chaos as protestors began removing the flag once again, preparing to destroy it.
My fraternity brother and others ran over to hold it up, in order for it not to touch the ground. People began throwing water bottles at us, rocks, sticks, calling us profane names. We stood for an hour defending the flag so many fight to protect.
My parents started a new life in the United States, a country that has helped them flourish and raise two kids. I grew up in a Military community and saw first hand the sacrifices they make. I will not stand for the disrespect these "protestors" cause for the sake of another country.
My LDOC will be memorable in knowing that my fraternity brothers and others fought to keep the flag up. But it was also be memorable in knowing that so many yearn to disrespect it.
Pic Creds: Parker Ali
The video is equally as powerful. Watch below as the group of students did what they could to protect the flag from the mob, even as people threw things at them. Also note the student who is standing next to them holding an unfolded Israeli flag and showing it to the protesters, almost daring them to say or do something:
Brendan Rosenblum, a junior and Jewish student at UNC-Chapel Hill, had water bottles thrown at him as he stood in the middle of the quad by with an Israeli flag while protesters tried to replace an American flag with a Palestinian one. Classes today have just been cancelled. pic.twitter.com/hUkPTXtLxj
— Bryan Anderson (@BryanRAnderson) April 30, 2024
For anyone wondering where the patriotic Americans were as the pro-Hamas protesters were trying to rip the American flag down again, here's your answer.
They were there, making us proud, and giving us a glimmer of hope that not all is lost in this increasingly crazy world.
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