Since yesterday, the Solbosch campus has been occupied by around a hundred students, who denounce in particular “the genocide underway in Gaza”. This type of protests is obviously not exclusive to our country, but takes place almost everywhere in the world. However, during these demonstrations, one element can be of concern: several testimonies are often given anonymously. But why this choice?
In an article published by the New York Timesit is explained that almost everywhere in the country, “students lead one of the vast protest movements of recent decades increasingly began to wear masks and keffiyehs (traditional headdress worn in the Middle East, Editor’s note) checkered Palestinians in order to protect their anonymity, a divisive objective“.
This choice, to protest with a hidden face, marks a certain break with the activists of older generations, as the NYT points out. “They partly drew their moral strength from assertive remarks, even if it meant endangering their future in the name of a higher cause.“.
A reputation at stake
The American newspaper adds that two factors could explain this choice to appear “hidden” during these movements: reputation and the financial aspect. “Today’s young activists appear to be responding to a range of reputational and financial risks (…) which their predecessors were simply not confronted with“.
In a survey conducted by the newspaper, several dozen students explained their fears.to be ‘doxxed’ (see their voluntarily disclosed identity) by pro-Israeli organizations accusing them of anti-Semitism, of being highlighted by the media or of appearing in viral videos. Many of them had first-hand experience of the online harassment, rescinded job offers or death threats that can follow.“.
Problem: the fact of seeing several demonstrators wearing masks creates a fear among universities: that of seeing anti-Semitic abuses appear. THE NYT explains that university management “fear that making masks commonplace will make it easier for outsiders to infiltrate campuses“.
While one of the ULB buildings was the scene of violence this Tuesday evening during a demonstration, this conflict continues to generate tensions as high as ever.
Israel-Palestine conflict
