Along with most of the internet, I was shocked to read on Twitter — from Barbra Streisand, no less! — that UC Berkeley had established “Jew-free” zones.
Streisand was retweeting an op-ed that ran with the shocking headline “Berkeley Develops Jewish-Free Zones.” Unsurprisingly, the story went viral.
The problem was, as I found out, that both the headline — and much of the content of the original Op-Ed — were incorrect.
The viral story had stretched the facts of the situation, and misrepresented what was actually happening on campus. What had happened, in reality, was that nine student groups (out of more than 100), had signed a resolution banning pro-Israel speakers from their events. Concerning, to be sure, but hardly an official campus ban on Jews in general. But the damage had already been done.
In the internet age, misinformation runs rampant. The headline of the original op-ed activated the collective fears of many American Jews, despite the lack of substance to the actual story. Instead, what we saw online and off was an exercise in the power of a viral headline to override logic, media literacy, and truth.
Writing for the Forward, I had the freedom to dive as deeply as I needed to into the real facts of this viral story — and the consequences of its publication on the real students at Berkeley Law. I was able to talk to the people who felt its impact, and to bring accountability and facts back to the forefront.
This was one of the most meaningful columns I wrote for the Forward this year. Today, I hope you’ll donate to the Forward again to support the team that finds the truth in any story. Make your gift now.
