Weaponisation of antisemitism at Northwestern University,Chicago
JVL Introduction
Watching a stunning biased “antisemitism” training video is a precondition for registering at Northwestern University, Chicago.
In this “Antisemitism Decoded” guide from the Forward, some of the distortions in the video are exposed.
But it’s even worse than the article suggests.
For instance the 6 images (below) presented as equal examples of antisemitism include ones that are blatantly so (the swastika graffiti) mixed in with one of blood-stained hand prints on an Israeli flag, harsh but absolutely legitimate political comment, and a 2019 cartoon of Trump with a yarmulke (which indeed he wore when Netanyahu led him to the Wailing Wall in his first presidency), foursquare within the tradition of legitimate political satire (see our contemporary post on this cartoon here).
The video also finds four extreme examples of unacceptable comments by “anti-Israel activists” , insinuating that they are typical of pro-Palestinian sentiment generally, equating all such sentiment with that of extreme right-winger and antisemite David Duke.
A spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Chicago which produced the video says there is nothing to be concerned about – it is only compulsory to watch the video, not to agree with its contents!
RK
This article was originally published by the Forward on Mon 29 Sep 2025. Read the original here.
Hundreds of Northwestern students can’t register for class because they won’t watch an antisemitism training video. Here’s what’s in it.
The video says quotes from ‘anti-Israel activists’ and David Duke are ‘the same’
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What about training in how not to be racist in relation to colour?
How about training in how not letting your higher education give you a sense of superiority over working class people who have not had privileged education?
This ‘training’ is a training to assist – ultimately – the full colonisation of this part of the world in to a vigorous capitalist enterprise shared between the US and Israel. It is totally colonialist, racist against Palestinian people, and vile. Of course, to do, and complete this ‘project’ it has to be ‘respectable’ (apparently anti-racist).