Frat brothers who protected American flag against Palestine demonstrators raise over $300k for party - The Jewish Chronicle

A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $326,000 to throw a party for the group of fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina who defended the American flag from anti-Israel protesters attempting to tear it down and raise a Palestinian flag in its place.

During the incident on Tuesday, footage of which swiftly went viral on social media, brothers of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at UNC-Chapel Hill stepped in to ensure the US flag did not touch the ground when anti-Israel demonstrators hoisted a Palestinian flag up the flagpole on the main quad. The frat brothers then guarded the flag until UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts responded with law enforcement officers to return the American flag to its place.

(Thread) Today was a sad yet empowering day at Chapel Hill. When I walked to class, I saw the Palestinian flag raised on our quad flag pole, and was immediately upset at the act that these “protestors” had made. I cannot say I am fully educated on the Israel/Palestine conflict pic.twitter.com/tZrZEOSu8a
— Guillermo Estrada (@estradguillermo) April 30, 2024

UNC student Guillermo Estrada documented the incident on Twitter/X, writing in a post on Tuesday: “Today was a sad yet empowering day at Chapel Hill. When I walked to class, I saw the Palestinian flag raised on our quad flag pole, and was immediately upset at the act that these ‘protestors’ had made. I cannot say I am fully educated on the Israel/Palestine conflict, but it upset me that my country’s flag was disrespected in order to advocate for another.”

He added that when Chancellor Roberts came with police officers, “they were met with profanity, middle fingers, thrown bottles, rocks, and water,” Estrada said.

“When the flag was raised once again, the greek (sic) community began singing the National anthem. As the Chancellor left, the quad erupted into chaos as protestors began removing the flag once again, preparing to destroy it,” Estrada continued.

The American flag is surrounded by a temporary barrier at the University of North Carolina on 1 May, 2024. On Tuesday, protestors removed the American flag and raised the Palestinian flag following arrests and dispersement of an encampment on campus. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)Getty Images

“My fraternity brother and others ran over to hold it up, in order for it not to touch the ground. People began throwing water bottles at us, rocks, sticks, calling us profane names. We stood for an hour defending the flag so many fight to protect.”

The young men are being hailed as heroes for their efforts, and after X user John Noonan saw the footage, he went about establishing the GoFundMe campaign titled "Pi Kappa Phi Men Defended their Flag. Throw 'em a Rager" as a reward for their heroism.

“Amidst the chaos, the screaming, the anti-semitism, the hatred of faith and flag, stood a platoon of American heroes,” the description of the fundraiser reads.

“Armored in Vineyard Vines and Patagonia, fueled by Zyn and White Claws, these triumphant Brohemians protected Old Glory from the unwashed Marxist horde -- laughing at their shrieks and wails and shielding the Stars & Stripes from Soviet missiles.”

“These boys... no, men, of the UNC Chapel Hill Pi Kappa Phi, gave the best to America and now they deserve the best. Help us raise funds to throw this frat the party they deserve, a party worth of the boat-shoed Broleteriat who did their country proud.”

In an update to the GoFundMe page on Thursday, Noonan wrote that “We have identified a world class event planner named Susan and she is already hard at work. She worked in the White House and knows what she's about.”

He also thanked the thousands of donors who helped raise the total funds to $326,342 as of Thursday, a number which continues to rise by the minute.

“We hope your generosity is a message to every college campus in America, from sea to shining sea: This country is great. This country is worth defending. That flag means something. And America takes care of her own,” Noonan wrote.

The protest at UNC-Chapel Hill occurred against the backdrop of countless pro-Palestine demonstrations across the US, which have become increasingly hostile in recent days. Before the incident on Tuesday, 36 anti-Israel protesters were arrested for failing to disperse after clashing with police. Of those arrested, 10 were students at the university, according to local media reports.

Noonan and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity have been contacted for comment.