Last week, New York University (NYU) declared the category of “Zionist” as a protected class, equal to marginalized ethnic and religious groups. The criticism of Zionism now counts as a discriminatory act and prevents any “discriminatory comment” to be made against anyone identifying as Zionist. NYU, like many univeristies, recently adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism which similarly equates any criticism with Israel as antisemitism. Meanwhile, while scholasticide rages on in Gaza, many students worldwide began their first week of classes protesting their universities’ complicity in genocide. Universities like the University of Michigan have already begun brutal crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators, arresting many and deploying mass surveillance methods.
God of Truth, as we witness our institutions and leaders fail to protect the most vulnerable and weaponize identities to continue profiting from war and violence, we are grateful for the students and young people who refuse to accept this unjust world. In their resistance to systems of domination, they are imagining a new world, one in which Your goodness and light reign. Lord, give courage to the students so that they may continue being bearers of truth and instruments of Your liberating love. Give wisdom to the leaders with hardened hearts, so that they may repent from their self-righteousness and listen to the voices of the young people.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer