Rishi Arun is a radical activist who has played a central role in anti-Israel protests across Philadelphia and on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Through his public endorsement of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, incitement to violence, and leadership in an antisemitic encampment, Arun has demonstrated a clear pattern of extremism and hatred that puts Jewish students and campus safety at risk.

Endorsement of Terrorism

On October 7, 2024 — the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s massacre in Israel — Rishi Arun participated in the “One Year of Genocide” protest organized by the SJP Philadelphia Coalition. During this protest, he was seen waving the flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

• The PFLP has been responsible for hijackings, bombings, and the murder of civilians — including Americans and Israelis.

• Publicly displaying its flag at a protest is not only a glorification of terrorism, but may constitute material support or endorsement of terror under U.S. law.

During the same protest, Arun led chants that celebrated violence and contributed to a hostile atmosphere that eventually devolved into violent clashes with police. These chants echoed well-known calls for intifada — uprisings that include terrorist violence against Jews and Israelis.

Leader of Antisemitic Campus Encampment

In April–May 2024, Arun served as one of the principal organizers of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The encampment was formed to protest Israel’s war against Hamas — a terrorist group responsible for mass atrocities — and to demand Penn divest from companies allegedly tied to Israel’s self-defense.

• On May 9, 2024, Arun declared:

  “Until we receive structural change, we won’t be moved… We won’t be moved by concessions.”
  A clear sign of intent to escalate pressure through disruptive means.

• Over the course of 16 days, the encampment grew increasingly radical. Protesters chanted for intifada, praised terrorist uprisings, and echoed genocidal slogans including:

  “Long live the intifada!”
  “There is only one solution: Intifada revolution!”
  “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

These chants do not simply express political critique — they call for Israel’s destruction and incite violence against Jews globally, aligning with internationally recognized definitions of antisemitism, including the IHRA’s.

Harassment and Hostility on Campus

The encampment became a source of intimidation, harassment, and fear for Jewish students and faculty:

• Participants engaged in threatening behavior, encouraged others to do the same, and created an atmosphere where Jewish members of the Penn community felt unsafe.

• During the dismantling of the encampment by Penn and Philadelphia Police on May 11, 33 individuals were arrested, including 9 Penn students — a strong signal of the encampment’s lawlessness and disruptive impact.

Conclusion

Rishi Arun is not a peaceful activist — he is a repeat promoter of antisemitic hatred, glorifier of terrorism, and leader of extremist disruption. His actions, both on and off campus, align with the rhetoric and symbols of violent terrorist organizations. Arun’s continued presence at the University of Pennsylvania is not only a moral stain on the institution — it’s a threat to the Jewish community and public safety.