Northwestern University president calls on students to stop anti-Semitic rhetoric. Pro-Palestinian group responds.

The president of Northwestern University released a statement on Monday that urged students to avoid making statements or banners that could be interpreted as promoting genocide or murder. In response to the statement, a pro-Palestinian student group quickly posted a photo with the phrase, "From the River to the Sea."

Michael Schill, the university's president, said in his statement that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East "has created division and mistrust on our campuses, further stoked by events that have taken place at other universities and by the rhetoric of individuals both inside and outside of our community."

"I have heard from students and parents who feel unsafe. I want to assure you that the University is committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for everyone in our community, through measures both visible and, in many cases, unseen."

Schill appears to have been referring to expressions of anti-Semitism on campus, given that many student-led groups at universities across the U.S. have not been shy about promoting anti-Semitic rhetoric amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

"As I have said before on multiple occasions and will reiterate again: Northwestern will not stand for antisemitism or discriminatory acts directed at any individual based upon their race, religion, national origin or other protected categories," Schill said.

"They are against University policy and, in many instances, against the law. We will investigate any and all allegations of behavior targeting members of our community in violation of our policies. If an individual violates these policies, we will begin disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrator and, if the matter warrants, refer it to law enforcement."

The university's president reiterated that hate of any kind, directed at any individual of any stripe, should be condemned and avoided. But he specifically focused on anti-Semitism, as expressions of hatred toward Jews have dramatically increased since Israel responded to Hamas' terrorist attacks by moving into Gaza.

"I call on all members of our community to use our collective voices to emphatically reject statements or banners that significant parts of our community interpret as promoting murder and genocide. This includes flying flags associated with Hamas and banners with the slogan 'From the River to the Sea.'"

Despite the university's call to stop hatred, the campus' student-run group Students for Justice in Palestine quickly took to social media, posting a photo of an banner hanging from an archway on the campus, which reads, "From the River to the Sea." Fox News Digital reported that the post is directed at the university and the university's president.

Fox News Digital reached out to the student group for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

Schill announced that the university would create the President's Advisory Committee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate, which is set to "focus not just on stemming the growth of antisemitism, but also hate directed to other groups such as our students of Palestinian descent."

"As the advisory committee gets up and running, I will continue to meet with individuals and groups in our community, because your feedback and experiences are vitally important to me and to our University."

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