While the Third Nation Student Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement has been the subject of controversy and debate for weeks, the weekend event came to an end Sunday at the Ohio Union – peacefully.
With many people opposing the OSU location for the Palestine Solidarity Movement conference, massive protesting seemed guaranteed.
President Holbrook released a statement asking the university community to refrain from violent actions as the Palestine Solidarity Movement group convened for two days of workshops and discussions to free Palestine.
Aside from minor verbal confrontations, both the pro-and anti-Palestine groups voiced their opinons – respecting Holbrook’s advice.
Many in opposition held signs and shouted at the movement’s supporters, while groups such as the Columbus Jewish Federation along with other Jewish student organizations discouraged protesting all together. The Coalition for Jewish Concerns presented Holbrook a letter objecting the conference, but her representative told The Lantern “this conference is permitted to occur because of the right to practice free speech afforded by the First Amendment.”
The conference coupled with the peaceful protesters represent the First Amendment at its best. Both the Palestine Solidarity Movement supporters and the pro-Israeli side were able to exercise their freedom of speech in an effective manner because they peaceably assembled. Neither message became blurred by violent outbursts that so often askew public perspective.
In the past such hostile eruptions have stolen the true essence of why people gather. For example, the riots after the last year’s OSU/Michigan game. After that weekend, the national media focused more on the massive fires raging east of High Street rather than OSU’s victory. The same can’t be said about the Ohio Union this weekend, where the focus remained on both sides of the issue.
Not only did Holbrook release the right statement using the First Amendment as her defense, her message may have been the reminder people needed to get their ideas truly across.
Despite the mutual disagreement between the Palestine Solidarity Movement members and the groups in opposition, the university did a good job remaining as unbiased as possible. OSU had more courage than Rutgers University which refused to hold the conference because Jewish leaders protested.
In order for the Pro-Israeli and Pro-Palestinian groups to find peace, which should be the ultimate goal of all, conversation and debate is a must. In this country, the First Amendment may be the key that unlocks the controversial door.
