‘Proud to be a rabbi at University of Texas’: Moshe Trepp

At least 50 people were arrested Wednesday, including a local journalist
UT rabbi said Jewish students on campus are ‘proud of who they are’
Rabbi: If protesters follow campus rules, their 'voices will be heard.'

Updated: Apr 25, 2024 / 06:28 PM CDT

AUSTIN, Texas (NewsNation) — Despite the ongoing pro-Palestine protests at the University of Texas-Austin, an educator at the school says he’s “proud to be a rabbi” on campus.

“The Jewish students here are absolutely amazing,” Rabbi Moshe Trepp told NewsNation on Thursday. “I’m so inspired by them, their courage, their strength and bravery. They show up and they’re proud of who they are. They’re not deterred.”

UT-Austin is among the dozens of U.S. universities where protests over Israel’s handling of the war against Hamas has taken center stage, and at times have become tense.

At least 50 people, including a local photojournalist, were arrested during a Wednesday demonstration where police and state troopers in riot gear and on horseback forced hundreds of students off the school’s main lawn. Thursday’s protests were less confrontational.

Trepp hopes that trend continues.

Protesters “are given a space and as long as you follow the rules and the laws of campus, you’ll have that space and your voices will be heard. But as soon as you become aggressive, violent, hurtful and offensive, the university will put a stop to it.”