“Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?”: CAA exposes antisemitism at King’s College London

Campaign Against Antisemitism has today published a video of a Jewish student recounting dire experiences in her first year at King’s College London (KCL).

The video was projected onto KCL premises.

In the projection, the student, Tali, speaks about the hostilities that she has faced on campus from fellow students, including seeing messages in a group chat reading, “Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?” and “Bitch get down,” in reference to her.

She also discusses the failures of University staff to assist her when she raised concerns for her safety, including potentially victim-blaming advice such as: “It may be helpful to try to understand why the other students are behaving this way.”

The video ends with Tali calling on people to join her at Britain’s March Against Antisemitism, organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism for Sunday 7th September.

You can watch the full video here.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Tali’s experience is absolutely scandalous. What happened to her and the University’s apparent failure to address the threatening racism that she has faced is symptomatic of the deep rot of antisemitism that has spread across campuses nationwide. Behind the façade of virtuous anti-racism rhetoric, universities have become epicentres of Jew-hatred: Jewish students are abused, Jewish societies are trolled and Jewish institutions are vandalised. Tali’s testimony lays bare not only the hostility faced by Jews on campus, but also the staggering failures of those in positions of responsibility. King’s College London has failed — and it must act decisively to protect Jewish students before more damage is done. This vicious Jew-hatred and the authorities’ failure to grapple with it is why we will be marching in central London this Sunday against antisemitism and extremism.”

A spokesperson for King’s College London said: “We are in contact with the student who has submitted a complaint and have offered support while investigations are ongoing, including individual support through our wellbeing services and increased safety measures.

“We are also engaged with our Israeli, Jewish and wider student societies on a regular basis, and have provided extensive pastoral support and have enhanced security measures, both in person and via our SafeZone app, to keep our community safe on campus.

“There is no place at King’s for racism, antisemitism, abuse, incitement, harassment and bullying, and any reports made to Report and Support (our reporting system), are taken very seriously and are investigated in line with our robust policies and procedures.”

Tali’s full remarks in the video 

My name is Tali, and I am a Jewish student right here, at King’s College London. I’m up here to talk about the antisemitism that I, and countless other Jewish students, have had to endure over the past year and a half – and longer. The staff at KCL haven’t been particularly helpful so far. Maybe after this, they’ll finally listen.

I began my university journey with excitement, eager for the next stage of my life. I grew up in a Jewish home, went to a Jewish school, and was quite sheltered from the hate that others in the Jewish community experience in their youth.

I suppose you could say I was naive when it came to the realities of campus life. But that didn’t last long. In a group chat for those attending the Associateship of King’s College lecture series on the Middle East, my coursemates made comments about the lectures being “an attempt to educate the Zionist”.

I calmly asked them why they thought that. They proceeded with an inquisition. “Is everyone here not pro-Palestine or what?” they said. “I would assume in a degree that required critical thinking, Zionism would be nonexistent in our cohort,” one added.

When I tried to discuss our differing views in the chat, I was dismissed with accusations like “You’re indoctrinated” and “You’re horrifically outnumbered here.”

Then, the messages took an even darker turn.

“Is there a f***ing Zionist in this group chat?”

“We’ve fished out a Zionist.”

“Get ‘em out.”

“Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Tali.” 

This went on for over two hours, leaving me in tears, and fearful for the next day.

That was my first day of university. That was my first day.

On my second day, I had to have my older brother escort me to my classes. Most of my classmates decided to ignore me from then on. I felt hostility in the air.

Then came 7th October 2024, one year on from Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks. It was the one-year anniversary of a terrible trauma for the Jewish world. Instead of sympathy or even just not acknowledging the day, I was shocked to see a group of Palestine activists taking part in a scheduled walkout, leaving me and fellow Jewish students questioning to what extent support and sympathy for terrorism was rampant on our campus.

I made it clear I did not align with this walkout. Again, abusive messages began flooding my phone.

“Bitch get down.”

“You’re not the messiah you think you are.”

“The Zionists are actually everywhere.”

“As a group, we should just band together and carry her out.”

I began to be afraid of what might happen if I turned up to my classes again. Classes I was paying for. Classes I had a right to be in, safe and equal.

But I was being attacked because I was Jewish.

I was struggling to get through that week. So, I spoke with the university’s wellness advisor. Not five minutes into the conversation, the advisor advised that “it may be helpful to try to understand why the other students are behaving this way” towards me.

That was the advisor who was the one I was supposed to turn to – and did turn to – to help me.

I filed a report with the university and the police regarding the threats and harassment I experienced. I have heard nothing from the university, and the police said they were unable to help.

To this day, I cannot walk into a classroom without hostile looks thrown my way, without two empty seats on either side of me, without me trying to decide whether or not I should tuck in my Star of David.

The advisor told me to try to understand why the other students are behaving like this towards me. I do understand.

So do Jewish students across the country, who are forced to avoid their own campuses for fear of being targeted. Antisemitic and pro-terrorist chants and signs and encampments are commonplace, all while staff look the other way, or worse, encourage it or even take part.

90% of young British Jews blame their fellow students for the increase in antisemitic incidents on UK campuses. Only 3% of British Jews are confident that if a Jewish student reported an antisemitic incident on campus, the university’s administration would take appropriate action. I am an illustration of that statistic.

We put the contents of this video to King’s College London for comment.

This is what they said: “We are in contact with the student who has submitted a complaint and have offered support while investigations are ongoing, including individual support through our wellbeing services and increased safety measures. 

“We are also engaged with our Israeli, Jewish and wider student societies on a regular basis, and have provided extensive pastoral support and have enhanced security measures, both in person and via our SafeZone app, to keep our community safe on campus.

“There is no place at King’s for racism, antisemitism, abuse, incitement, harassment and bullying, and any reports made to Report and Support (our reporting system), are taken very seriously and are investigated in line with our robust policies and procedures.” 

Jewish students in Britain deserve better than this. This must be the moment that the country wakes up. People need to see that they are not alone in feeling this way. I encourage you to join Britain’s March Against Antisemitism on Sunday 7th September to say no to antisemitism and extremism. See you there.

Sign up now at antisemitism.org/march. 

Image credit: Jeremy Coleman/Campaign Against Antisemitism