University of Massachusetts Amherst has 2,300 Jewish undergraduate students, representing 10% of the student population, and 500 graduate students, representing 6.4% of the graduate student population. There are Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Faculty for Justice in Palestine and the BDS movement are all active at UMass Amherst.

There have been multiple reported antisemitic incidents on campus that have resulted in police activity. In November 2023, following a peaceful Hillel-organized walk calling for the return of hostages held by Hamas, a student physically attacked a Jewish student, punching them in the head multiple times. The Jewish student was reportedly holding an Israeli flag, which the attacker took, spat on and shredded with a knife. The perpetrator was arrested and barred from returning to campus.

SJP also held a protest on October 25, where hundreds of students marched to the Administration Building for a sit-in, demanding UMass Amherst divest from “Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” According to reports, 56 students were subsequently arrested for criminal trespassing.

University Policies and Responsive Action

UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes sent a message to the campus community on October 10 condemning Hamas and its acts of terror against Israel. In March 2024, the University brought Standing Together to campus to facilitate a conversation and educate students.

In April and May 2024, two pro-Palestinian encampments were established on the University campus. While the first encampment was said to have ended peacefully, the second resulted in more than 130 arrests.