Reed College says Jewish student was hit with rock thrown through dorm window after having religious objects destroyed

A Jewish student at Reed College in Portland, Oregon was hit in the head by a rock earlier this month after it was allegedly thrown through the open window of her dorm room. 

The incident came as pro-Palestinian protests filled the campus and just a day after her mezuzah and the Torah scroll were destroyed. They are usually affixed to doors. The perpetrators in both instances have not yet been caught. 

According to the Willamette Weekly, the incident took place around 2am on Tuesday May 7. The student, whose identity has not been made public, was in her room when all of a sudden, a rock came flying through the window and struck her on the head. 

A number of rocks were found in her room, however only one is alleged to have made contact with her. 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's director of community relations, Bob Horenstein, said the student has left the college and does not plan on returning to continue studying there. 

Horenstein told the Willamette Weekly that the attack "did not happen in a vacuum," noting that there have been "complaints from students, parents and faculty for the last seven months about what they would describe as a hostile climate for Jewish students on that campus." 

In a statement to students and staff, Reed's vice president and dean for institutional diversity, Phyllis Esposito and vice president for student life, Karnell McConnell-Black, described the incident as "a clear act of antisemitism directed at a student on our campus," calling it "unacceptable and unlawful behavior." 

“Every Reed student, regardless of their faith, has the right to express their faith tradition through the symbols they display, clothes they wear, and practices they keep," they added. 

After learning of the attack, Reed College Students for Justice in Palestine released a statement on Instagram condemning the actions of the perpetrator and expressing their condolences for the victim. 

"Hatred stands in the way of global liberatory movements, such as justice in Palestine," the group added, before signing the statement with, "From the river to the sea."