A group of patriotic fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina are being celebrated for safeguarding the American flag from an anti-Israeli mob intent on raising the Palestinian colors.
A GoFundMe page launched for the Pi Kappa Phi students has raised over $320,000 from over 10,000 donations as of May 2. The fund aims to "throw this frat the party they deserve" for their heroic stand this week at the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, the fundraising site states.
BREAKING: $282,000 donated to Pi Kappa Phi patriots in less than 24 hours!!
By comparison, the Harvard Encampment Pro-Hamas protest raised $1,100 in 8 Days.
God Bless these Frat Boys and the Parents who raised them! 🇺🇸
Harvard Marxists 👇 UNC Patriots 👇 pic.twitter.com/mYD5PDGHQY
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) May 2, 2024
"Extremists across the country have invaded college campuses to make outrageous demands on weak university administrators," the organizers wrote. "But amidst the chaos, the screaming, the antisemitism, the hatred of faith and flag, stood a platoon of American heroes."
The confrontation unfolded on Tuesday when the campus, among numerous others nationwide occupied by anti-Israeli demonstrations, was targeted by a pro-Palestinian student mob, according to reports. Three dozen anti-Israel protesters were arrested by police on the UNC campus.
🚨BREAKING: Frat boys at UNC-Chapel Hill defended an American flag while being hit by water bottles from pro-Palestine protestors.
Students from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity were seen holding the American flag during a protest
Country legend John Rich (@johnrich) has offered the… https://t.co/KWOayCkZx1 pic.twitter.com/AEOR39nBp4
— 🇺🇸 InterStar Media 🇺🇸 (@InterStarMedia) May 2, 2024
The protesters attempted to raise the Palestinian flag during a confrontation with counter-protesters on campus. That's when the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers stepped in to protect the flag. As the protesters hurled debris and taunts, the fraternity members grabbed the American flag to prevent it from touching the ground, with students chanting "USA, USA." It is now protected by a barricade.
The incident highlights the charged atmosphere on many college campuses amid the recent surge in anti-Israel protests and activism related to the ongoing conflict in the region.
