This Memorial Day, as many reflected on the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform to protect our freedom, it is sad to see such blatant disrespect and hatred expressed towards our country and those who have fought for it.
Over the weekend, a group of pro-Palestine students from Princeton University showed an utter lack of respect and contempt for our country when they disrupted a parade that was honoring our fallen US service members.
Pro-Palestine Princeton students chanting “Free Palestine” crash a Memorial Day Parade honoring fallen US service-members. Absolutely sick. pic.twitter.com/LnKj8qz678
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 27, 2024
Princeton students block a patriotic parade of Americans carrying the American flag.
The anti-America students ran onto the road and sat down to block the patriotic parade from going further while chanting “Free Palestine.” pic.twitter.com/E0tcdlYma5
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 26, 2024
This is the first protest in New Jersey. Just a few days earlier in Jackson, New Jersey, pro-Palestinian protesters took another opportunity to spread their anti-Israel message.
The fact that the protest was met with a counter-protest is not surprising. The Orthodox Jewish community in Jackson has been the target of hate and discrimination for years, with false accusations of “overdevelopment” and even blatant antisemitism being used against them. While the protest was tense, it never reached the level of hatred and disrespect seen in the online discourse and public meetings in the town.
Meanwhile, in New York, the desecration of a WWI memorial and American flag by pro-Palestinian protesters is a clear display of their hatred for our country. Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD have rightly condemned these cowardly acts, offering a combined $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. This kind of vandalism is not just a crime. It is a complete disrespect for the sacrifices made by our service members and the values of our nation.
As Mayor Adams said, “We cannot remain silent when our symbols of freedom are desecrated by individuals who clearly hate our country and hate our way of life.” This sentiment should be echoed by all Americans, regardless of political beliefs. We must stand together and speak out against this kind of hate and disrespect. Our country stands for freedom and democracy, and any act that goes against that should be condemned.
“I want to be extremely clear. In spite of the unpopular notion that people don’t want to say it — I want to say it — I love America. I love America, and I’m proud to be a citizen of America. And the reason we are here is because of men and women like the statue behind us. And we cannot remain silent when our symbols of freedom are desecrated by individuals who clearly hate our country and hate our way of life,” Adams said. “I am not going to remain silent and we should not remain silent, because our silence gives the belief that everything is OK, and it is not OK. Not only was this statue desecrated, but down the block another statue was desecrated.”
Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry posted on social media, “I want to assure you that the NYPD, backed by our finest detectives, is actively investigating this heinous crime. We will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are brought to justice. Vandalizing a memorial, a symbol of remembrance and honor, is not only an act of criminal mischief but also a disrespect to the sacrifices of those who served our country,”
“The NYPD is known for its exceptional investigative abilities, and this case will be no exception. We are committed to upholding the law and ensuring that justice prevails. Let this serve as a warning to anyone who dares to deface our city’s landmarks—there will be consequences. We urge anyone with information to come forward and assist us in our efforts to bring those responsible to justice. Together, we can uphold the values of our city and ensure that such acts are never repeated,” he concluded.
Let us honor the fallen by standing up for the values they fought to protect. Let us show our gratitude and respect for our service members and their families. And let us not forget that our freedom comes at a cost and should not be taken for granted.
