Amidst anti-Israel protests sweeping the nation, the Young America’s Foundation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison organized a patriotic party as a counter-movement to the University’s protests.
On May 4th, former Wisconsin Governor and Young America Foundation (YAF) President Scott Walker announced on his X account that GOP Badgers and UW-YAF would present a “Party in the USA” on the UW Library Mall, across the street from the anti-Israel protesters on the “street part, not the criminal part,” referring to the anti-Israel protesters.
The party featured American flags, free t-shirts, popsicles, Toby Keith music, and a celebration of freedom.
Organizers aimed to set an example for their peers who were protesting against Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. Harrison Wells, chairman of the YAF chapter at UW-Madison, stated, “There is a way to express your opinion in a way that follows the law.”
Videos shared on the Wisconsin YAF Twitter and Instagram pages showed party-goers enjoying themselves without engaging in illegal activities such as camping or yelling at others. The event was simply students celebrating America.
Ali Beneker, one of the attendees, stated on X that, “The biggest difference between the pro-Hamas leftists and the GOP Badgers and Wisconsin YAF is that we’re just happy people.” He added, “The people at the UW-Madison encampment are so painfully unhappy, and it shows.”
The anti-Israel protests at UW-Madison entered their seventh day as students continued to demand that the university request a cease-fire from Israel.
