by Jameelah Mullen
April 28, 2024
The New Orleans, Louisiana-based university was once home to the National Center for Black-Jewish Relations, which supported research into the historical alliance between the communities.
Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dillard University was once home to the National Center for Black-Jewish Relations, which supported research into the historical alliance between the communities. The center closed due to budget constraints following Hurricane Katrina. To strengthen ties between black and Jewish communities, Dillard President Rochelle Ford attempted to restart the program through a fundraising campaign.
The campaign ended abruptly on October 7 after Hamas' attack on Israel led to war.
“We paused in aggressively seeking funds because of the terrorist attack and the war that followed because I didn't want it to seem opportunistic,” Ford told The Washington Post.
However, Ford continued to support the Jewish community through a partnership with Yeshiva University in Israel. Ford was a guest speaker at the March for Israel in Washington, DC last November
“I ask you to join me in pausing and recognizing that too many innocent people have died in Gaza and Israel,” she said.
Students quickly took to social media to criticize them for their participation in the event, which some of them said dehumanized Palestinians and undermined the university's legacy.
“I am a graduate of Dillard University! I am completely outraged that DU President Rochelle Ford stands with the Israeli Zionists as they exile and murder two million Palestinian civilians to take their land. To date, 10,000 Palestinians have been murdered, including 4,000 children,” Dillard posted on X.
I am a graduate of Dillard University! I am completely outraged that DU President Rochelle Ford stands with the Israeli Zionists as they exile and murder two million Palestinian civilians to take their land. To date, 10,000 Palestinians have been murdered, including 4,000 children.
– Yogi 🌞 spoutible App 💦 (@YogiSunlight) November 16, 2023
Dillard alumnus Leslie Grover disapproved of Ford's presence at the march, saying it was an attempt to justify Israel's presence in Gaza. She also noted that the university has disabled the comments section on her social media posts.
That was “the last straw,” she told the Washington Post.
“It felt like they were telling students that their voice doesn’t matter, and that’s the opposite of what I was taught at Dillard,” Grover said.
Ford said she was surprised by the backlash, but her belief in the centrist has not wavered and she is still working to forge relationships between black and Jewish leaders. Ford says fundraising efforts are currently on hold.
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