Three billboards displaying messages targeting antisemitism were mounted in Norman as part of a national campaign promoting religious tolerance.
The campaign was launched by JewBelong, a nonprofit organization and web-based platform against antisemitism. One of the hot pink billboards displaying the slogan, “You don’t need to be a Jew to protect Jews,” was mounted Monday at Interstate 35 and Franklin Road.
A hot pink billboard with the message “Jewish students don’t need your pity. Just your spine.” is located at I-35 and Purple Heart Trail. The second billboard with the message “Standing against antisemitism is standing with America.” is displayed at I-35 and South Interstate Drive.
Oklahoma Hillels is an organization at Oklahoma colleges and universities, including Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma City University, since 2023.
Shayla Witover, engagement and programs director of Oklahoma Hillels, wrote in an email to OU Daily Monday that she believes the billboards will show support for Jewish students in Norman.
“I hope they will get Norman community members thinking about the ways they see antisemitism in their day-to-day lives and what they might be able to do about it,” Witover wrote.
Background
OU Students for Justice in Palestine, formerly known as Student Coalition for Palestinian Liberation, is a student-led organization at OU focused on educating, organizing and advocating for Palestine.
SJP became a registered student organization at the beginning of February. In January, SJP held an art demonstration in Gallogly Hall as part of a larger event by the national organization.
On Oct. 7, SJP and OU Hillel both held vigils for victims of the war in Gaza on the South Oval. SJP has held several protests over the past year on the South Oval, outside Dale Tower, and inside Evans Hall, Bizzell Memorial Library and the Oklahoma Memorial Union. In March, SJP held a protest during an OU Board of Regents meeting in Norman.
SJP and JewBelong did not immediately respond for comment.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour and Thomas Pablo. Gretchen Schultz and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
