Rasmea Odeh recently pleaded guilty to immigration fraud, for failing to disclose on her immigration applications her 1970 conviction and imprisonment in Israel for a 1969 supermarket bombing that killed two Hebrew University students, Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner.
Rasmea concocted a defense that she falsely answered the questions because she was suffering from PTSD, which made her “filter” the plain wording. At multiple levels that defense was as big a lie as her lies on her immigration forms, and in the plea agreement she admitted her false statements were not the result of PTSD or any other mental condition.
But if you need a refresher on the case, and Rasmea’s other nonsense claims, see our coverage of the guilty plea, Rasmea Odeh pleads guilty to immigration fraud, and follow up post, VIDEO: Terror victim’s brother says Rasmea Odeh supporters “have to eat their words”.
Rasmea has been treated as a hero by anti-Israel groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace and various chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
SJP had an event on Monday night, May 15, honoring Rasmea, where she was to appear with anti-Israel pro-BDS professor Nadine Naber:
Pro-Israel groups organized a vigil outside the venue. Northwestern Hillel circulated this statement (emphasis in original):
Dear members of the Hillel community,
On Monday night, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Northwestern will host an event featuring activist Rasmea Odeh, a convicted terrorist responsible for the death of two Israeli students in a 1969 supermarket bombing in Jerusalem.
As advocates for the right to free speech and open discourse, especially given the current climate on college campuses across the country, we respect SJP’s right to invite speakers who challenge our opinions and beliefs and deepen our understanding of complex issues. However, hosting a convicted terrorist at Northwestern is an affront to the sanctity of life and crosses a moral line.
Northwestern Hillel and other campus organizations will host a silent vigil in the courtyard of Tech before the event. Please join us at 7 p.m.; we encourage all vigil participants to wear black. We will have yizkor (memorial) candles and photographs of her victims available for vigil participants to display.
This will be a silent, non-confrontational vigil. We will not attempt to disrupt the event in any way. Our goal is not to protest free speech, but instead to mourn the victims of the convicted terrorist who is speaking on our campus.
This vigil will not be a boycott. Rather, it will provide a space for those disturbed by Rasmea’s presence on campus to quietly and respectfully mourn her victims.
Following the vigil, students are welcome to come to Hillel to decompress and debrief. While for some this is difficult and challenging, it is also an opportunity for discussion and learning. Several students and staff will be available for anyone who would like to talk.
Students for Justice in Palestine chooses to honor Rasmea; we choose to honor her victims.
At the event tonight, there was a long line of students holding vigil, in this photo obtained from the pro-Israel group StandWithUs:
[Vigil for Victims of Rasmea Odeh, Northwestern University, May 15, 2017][Image courtesy StandWithUs]
[Vigil for Victims of Rasmea Odeh, Northwestern University, May 15, 2017, Northwestern U. President Morton Schapiro, Center][Image courtesy StandWithUs]
StandWithUs also issued this statement:
The event tonight is further evidence that SJP, a virulently anti-Israel, anti-Semitic organization, excuses, justifies, and even endorses terrorism. SJP claims unity with Odeh at their “You come for Rasmea, You Come for us all” program tonight. While they demonstrate allegiance to a criminal who was convicted for her involvement in two 1969 bombing plots that killed two people and injured nine others, other Northwestern students engage in a silent memorial service outside the venue.
150 students, faculty and administration, including NU President Morton Schapiro and Assistant to the President Eugene Lowe, stand shoulder to shoulder making a unified statement that the the terrorist doesn’t get the last word. In solemn unity they remember her victims.
Based on reports I received, there were about twice as many people attending the vigil as attended the event.
[Featured Image courtesy StandWithUs]
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