Activist’s lecture sparks backlash and accusations of anti-Semitism at Towson University

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A human rights activist invited to speak at Towson University drew controversy Monday for his stance on the Middle East conflict.

Karen Levene, executive director of the Baltimore Zionist District, was on the Towson University campus Monday, pacing in frustration. She is troubled by the university’s decision to allow what she and her group believe is an undesirable speaker to attend a student lecture.

“Why is it okay for a speaker to come and talk about anti-Zionist or anti-Jewish rhetoric,” Levene said.

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The featured guest is Omar Shakir, director of the Israel/Palestine desk at Human Rights Watch, where he investigates human rights abuses in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Shakir is a well-known human rights activist among supporters, but critics say he demonizes Israel and defends terrorists to opponents, including Leuven.

(“Shakir”) is absolutely pro-Palestinian, and that’s okay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being pro-Palestinian. But when you link it to false Israeli rhetoric… and you start throwing around words that are -Zionist, that’s when it becomes a problem,” Levene said.

After learning of Shakir’s invitation to speak, Levene and her group of at least 20,000 people emailed university officials immediately after learning of Shakir’s invitation to speak, asking them to rescind Shakir’s invitation. But to no avail.

Shakir arrived Monday at the university’s Union Theater, where students, some there for extra credit, lined up to hear him perform.

He was the featured guest of Kimberly Katz, Ph.D., a tenured professor of history at the university.

“I think name-calling and calling people anti-Semitic is a pretty lazy way of not engaging in intellectual debate. If you have an intellectual debate, they can come and sit down and ask questions and they will be given answers.” “,” Katz said.

University President Mark Ginsberg also expressed his views on Shakir’s invitation and Levene’s opposition.

“I’m sorry if they think that way, but I think people have a right to express their point of view, whether we agree with it or disagree. We’re a public university, we’re a public place, and that’s important,” Ginsberg said. “I myself profess the Jewish faith and, of course, I object to anti-Semitism, it’s disgusting. We definitely do not condone hate speech or hate speech.”

Still for Leuven, the voice of the opposition.

“It’s like a speaker speaking out against the African-American community or speaking out against the Asian community or the LGBT community,” Levene said.

University police were present at the event and did not report any disturbances.