Pro-Hamas protests on college campuses are creating problems for the embattled Democratic Party, especially vulnerable officials running for re-election. Footage obtained by Townhall from Wednesday’s protests taking place at the University of Montana brings the issue to the attention of Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), as one of the agitators marching around and chanting “free, free Palestine” can be seen wearing a Tester campaign sign.
During the march, a pro-Palestinian protester was spotted holding up a Jon Tester campaign sign and chanting “Free, Free Palestine.” pic.twitter.com/FoZWh6SPah
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 2, 2024
More footage shows a youthful woman writing “fuck your comfort” in chalk on the sidewalk. She was asked what her message to Tester would be, and in response she offered: “I would tell him that we want a ceasefire and we won’t stop fighting until we get it.” She added: “And we’re going to do that, we need him to pursue it if he’s going to continue to represent us, and if he expects us to vote in the future, and if he expects us to be willing to fight for him to represent us, he must fight for us, for our future, and for the future of people around the world.”
At one point in the video, another protester appears in the frame holding a Palestinian flag.
Pro-Palestinian protesters drawing in chalk and writing one “fuck your kid” had a message for Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, who is running for re-election in 2024:
“We want a ceasefire and we will not stop fighting until we achieve it. And we need him to pursue it…if… pic.twitter.com/KXaIB61t6T
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 2, 2024
Still, more footage shows what those who dare to support Israel face on campus. As the brave youthful man stands alone and silently waves an Israeli flag, pro-Hamas protesters shout at him, including one who insists: “This is not the place for you now, man, go home!” Among those present are cardboard signs reading “reveal” and “get rid of,” as does the Palestinian flag. Instagram account of UMontana Students for Justice in Palestine contains fasting calling on people to sign their letter, also included in their biography, urging people to support the anti-Israel divestment cause.
Townhall obtained footage of yesterday’s strike at the University of Montana in the Gaza Strip.
During the protest, a pro-Palestinian protester can be heard shouting at an Israel supporter: “This is not the place for you now, man. Go home!”. pic.twitter.com/T3jo5LcCX7
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 2, 2024
Someone on a megaphone also shouts, “From Palestine to the Philippines, end the American war machine,” leading others in the chant. More pro-Hamas agitators join in calling for a youthful man with an Israeli flag to “go home!”
Apparently, such terrorist sympathizers believe they have rights to free speech, but a youthful man expressing his support for Israel should not be allowed to stage a peaceful counter-protest.
Tester will likely face Republican Tim Sheehy in the November general election, who has posted about and condemned the protests through his X account.
You will not see @JonTester standing up to this pro-terrorist, anti-Israel madness.
He is too busy kowtowing to his radical base and far-left Democrats in Washington. #Tester retires https://t.co/WkID4jqMhl
— Tim Sheehy (@SheehyforMT) April 30, 2024
Townhall contacted Tester’s office to find out whether he supported such protests and whether he needed the support of such agitators. In response, the senator’s spokesperson indicated that “Senator Tester believes that the right to peacefully protest is a fundamental American right, but that those protests must be peaceful. “Condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and all protests that involve unlawful conduct, including threatening student safety, destroying buildings or disregarding law enforcement.”
In March, before these protests became as much of a national issue as they are today, Montana Public Radio (MTPR) delved into this issue Tester received calls from terrorist sympathizers who warned that they would withhold support if the senator did not support a permanent ceasefire.
This segment mentioned Tester’s response, which was: “I think people should feel confident that their problems and concerns will be heard. I think it’s part of what makes our democracy work. I also made it clear that Israel must respect international law. “I also made it clear that Israel must defend itself.” However, as MTPR’s Sally Mauk suggested, “I don’t think this response… will reassure those who oppose the war in Gaza.”
Like Ohio, where another vulnerable Democratic senator, Sherrod Brown, is dealing with his own headache after dismissing the issue of protests, Montana is “Drop it off“race and could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
