Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has announced that he is sending Chick-fil-A to counter protesters who were against pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) on Saturday.
“I am very proud of the brave young men at @UNC who protected our flag and stood up for America against the pro-Hamas protesters on their campus,” Graham said said in a post on the social platform X on Saturday.
“The actions of these young men give me hope for the next generation’s love for our country,” Graham’s post continued. “Guys, as a thank you for protecting Old Glory, @ChickfilA is on the way this morning, compliments of Team Graham!”
Members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity prevented an American flag from touching the ground during a Tuesday protest on the UNC campus. The members were seen in viral videos holding up the flag while activists threw things at them, leading to a GoFundMe for the fraternity brothers called titled “UNC Frat Bros Defended their Flag. Throw ‘em a Rager,” which has now raised over $500,000.
Country music artist John Rich said has announced that he is willing to perform at the “rager” for the fraternity members on Thursday.
“I reached out and I said, ‘Boys, I sure am proud of you. When you have that big rager you guys are talking about on GoFundMe, I’d like to show up and play you a free concert,’” Rich said on NewsNation’s “On Balance” with host Leland Vittert. “And they hit back, and I think we’re gonna try to make that happen.”
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who has expressed his disapproval towards recent pro-Palestinian protests, donated donated $10,000 to the GoFundMe.
In recent weeks, protests have erupted on college campuses nationwide, focusing on Palestinian human rights and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.
These protests have also encountered allegations of antisemitism, which protesters have rejected.
“We are frustrated by media distractions focusing on inflammatory individuals who do not represent us,” Columbia University protest leaders stated in a message last month. “Our members have been misidentified by a politically motivated mob.”
“We firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry and stand vigilant against non-students attempting to disrupt the solidarity being forged among students,” they continued. “Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, Black and pro-Palestinian classmates and colleagues who represent the full diversity of our country.”
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