Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

This Sunday, March 22, University of Washington President Robert J. Jones will speak at a “Combating Antisemitism on Campus”Town Hall moderated by propagandist and bigot Ari Hoffman. The Seattle chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is pushing back by demanding that he withdraw from the event.

“”Ari Hoffman is a right-wing agitator who is widely known locally for his inflammatory rhetoric that targets Palestinians, Muslims, Jewish allies and others, including at UW. Hoffman has doxxed students and community members who advocate for Palestinian cultural identity– as “terrorism” and “antisemitic.” He has leveled Islamophobic, transphobic, and anti-immigrant attacks against UW students, faculty and staff,”JVP Seattle stated. 

Hoffman works alongside and is friends with MAGA propagandists that TtS has consistently reported on. This includes Cam Higby, who our supporters have nicknamed “Ham Pigby,” and Jonathan Choe, who is widely referred to as “Jonathan Chode.” These males have a history of agitating protesters and instigating fights to film and chop the footage up to mislead their audiences on current events, often working to paint anyone who disagrees with them as violent. 

“UW claims to hold core values of integrity, diversity, and respect, and student groups on campus have been asking to meet with you about just such concerns for nine months. In contrast, Hoffman has built his career on dishonest attacks of marginalized people and shutting down free speech,” JVP Seattle said.

UW students and groups have been requesting to meet with Jones for nine months, and JVP Seattle said he needs to finally meet with them. 

Hoffman hasn’t done much promotion of this event in recent days, but has been focused on Israeli genocide, which he’ll never admit to, bashing Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Governor Bob Ferguson, and more. 

The Town Hall will kickoff at 9:30 a.m. at Bikur Cholim Hadath, an Ashkenazic Orthodox synagogue located at 5145 S Morgan St. in Seattle. There will be a breakfast and a Q&A session between Hoffman and Jones. While the event is free and open to the public, people are required to RSVP for security purposes. 

The event is in partnership with the Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, an Orthodox synagogue in Seattle; American Jewish Committee Seattle; StandWithUs Northwest, a pro-Israel regional chapter that fights BDS movements and anti-Zionist activism; Northwest Yeshiva High School; and Temple de Hirsch Sinai, a Reform Jewish congregation scattered throughout Seattle and surrounding areas. 

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