“Hamas make us proud, kill another soldier now.”
That quote is not from a terrorist in a cave in a war-torn country like the ones I’ve served in.
That’s from a student at an Ivy League American university this week.
Let’s take stock of this uniquely terrifying moment in American history:
Antisemitism has, horrifically, become socially acceptable with the progressive left.
Jewish students and professors continue to be targeted on a daily basis.
A politically desperate Biden administration is coddling those who hate Israel because they want progressive votes at all costs.
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And we’re seeing it here in Virginia at some of the most storied universities in the world, including my alma mater, Virginia Tech.
What I’m seeing every day is disgusting and unacceptable. We must stand with the Jewish community being directly targeted on a daily basis.
Why is America becoming a place where the Jewish people and the Israeli state must cower in fear?
Why is the progressive left so hellbent on the destruction of Israel and so many individual lives on college campuses?
Why do universities continue to coddle these protesters who are actively supporting terrorists and the destruction of the Jewish people?
Where are the cries from the protesters for the release of the hostages and the destruction of the Hamas terrorists who have deprived Gaza of any freedoms since it took control in 2007?
The pro-Hamas protesters taking over our streets and college campuses have gone too far. Jewish students no longer feel safe going to class.
I served six tours overseas as a Special Forces Green Beret to protect America. I did this to protect people here at home from hate and terror.
I trained with the Israel Defense Forces and in the Hamas terror tunnels, and I saw the peril Israel faces firsthand.
Given my experiences overseas, I can tell you that seeing kids in danger on American streets because of their religion is infuriating.
This needs to be called out and dealt with swiftly.
There is no moral gray area here.
There needs to be action. There needs to be consequences —in Virginia and across the country.
The protesters and vocal bigots are using familiar language to this Green Beret: This is what people who are going to war say about their enemies.
During my time on active duty, this is exactly what I would see warring groups say about each other. In countries overseas, war zones. Not in some of America’s largest cities and in our commonwealth.
I hope that more Americans join me in speaking out against this outrage. Too many on the far left, in college ivory tower offices, and in the Biden administration are silent, or worse joining in. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Elise Stefanik and others have stepped up to the plate to lead where our president and others are void, recently traveling to Columbia University, the epicenter of the protests to demand they cease the hate and antisemitic actions.
Joe Biden needs to know that this is not a time for political triangulation. These are not voices to be coddled.
Because they’re making it very clear: They won’t stop at just words.
Derrick Anderson is a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret. He served six tours of duty in conflict zones around the world and is running for a seat in the House of Representatives in his home district, Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. He is a Republican. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not reflect the policies or positions of the U.S. Army, Department of Defense or U.S. government.