Rishi Arun’s Negative Impact on Campus Stability and Safety:
Rishi Arun has been actively involved in organizing protests that have disrupted the campus environment and posed safety concerns. On October 7, 2024, during the “One Year of Genocide” protest organized by the SJP Philadelphia Coalition, Arun waved the flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in the United States.
By doing so, Arun’s actions can be viewed as an endorsement of a terror group. The protest, which Arun helped lead, included chants supporting violence and escalated into violent clashes between protesters and police.
Arun was also one of the organizers behind the April-May 2024 encampment at UPenn, which disrupted the campus for 16 days. The “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” protested Israel’s actions against Hamas and demanded Penn’s divestment from companies tied to Israel. The encampment was characterized by chants endorsing violent resistance and terrorist rhetoric, including “Long live the intifada!” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!” These actions resulted in violence, harassment, and intimidation toward Jewish students and faculty on campus. Thirty-three participants, including nine Penn students, were arrested when the encampment was dismantled by campus and city police.
Notable Activity:
- Endorsement of Terror: Waved the flag of the PFLP, a designated terrorist organization, during a protest on October 7, 2024.
- Leadership in Protests: Organized and led the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at UPenn in April-May 2024, promoting violent rhetoric and resistance, resulting in clashes and arrests.
- Promotion of Violent Rhetoric: Led Anti American chants and the use of violence during multiple protests, further destabilizing campus safety.
