Johara Shamaa, a pre-med neuroscience student at Temple University, has been a prominent figure in Palestinian activism, serving as the primary contact for Temple’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter. Shamaa, who has held various positions at Temple University and other institutions, became particularly visible due to her leadership in protests, which aligned with the views of Hamas. Her activism has drawn attention for the violent and inflammatory nature of the slogans and rhetoric she has employed.
August 10, 2022: Leading a Rally
Shamaa led several chants during an anti-Israel protest titled “Philly Stands with Gaza” outside Philadelphia City Hall. The protest was organized in response to Israel’s Operation Breaking Dawn (OBD) against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group. PIJ had threatened Israeli civilians, prompting Israel to launch preemptive strikes that killed senior PIJ commanders and led to the firing of over 1,000 rockets toward Israeli cities. Shamaa’s chants included calls for violence, such as “There is only one solution! Intifada revolution!” and “From Philly to Gaza, globalize the Intifada!” The term “intifada” has historically been associated with violent uprisings against Jews in Israel, including suicide bombings, shootings and stabbings during the First and Second Intifadas.
Spreading Anti-Semitism
At the rally, Shamaa further led chants such as “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!”—a slogan widely interpreted as calling for the elimination of Israel. Other chants led by Shamaa included “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” and “Be-ruh, be-dam nifdik ya Falasteen [With spirit, with blood, we will redeem you, Palestine].”
Toward the end of the rally, Shamaa participated in actions that involved burning flags while protesters chanted “Allahu Akbar” and “The yahoodi [Jew] must go!” Such rhetoric crosses into anti-Semitism, as exemplified by the protester’s chant and the comparison of Israeli policies to the Holocaust, both of which are highlighted as examples of contemporary anti-Semitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
Violence at the Rally
The rally saw confrontational and violent behavior from protesters. One of the speakers, Brice Patterson, blocked traffic and threatened to break a car window and assault the driver who attempted to move past the protesters. This incident, coupled with the inflammatory chants, marked the rally as particularly aggressive.
Current Status
Johara Shamaa remains a visible figure in the anti-Israel movement on Temple University’s campus, where she continues to advocate for Palestinian and Hamas causes. Her leadership in the rally and participation in chants promoting violence and the destruction have brought her widespread attention, both in support and criticism.
Shamaa’s actions, especially those involving anti-Semitic rhetoric, underscore the deeply controversial nature of her activism, drawing a clear connection between her leadership in SJP and the broader anti-Israel and anti-Zionist movement.
