Share:
Lucas Oberholtzer Hess
Lucas Oberholtzer Hess participated in the pro-Hamas encampment at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and an anti-Israel rally during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists, launched after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks.
Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds that day. For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
The Penn encampment was in support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of February 2025, Oberholtzer Hess' LinkedIn profile said he was studying for a bachelor's degree in environmental science at Temple University (Temple), slated to graduate in May 2026.
As of the same date, Oberholtzer Hess' LinkedIn profile said he was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date: April 25, 2024
Organizers: Philly Palestine Coalition (PPC)
Location: Penn campus, Philadelphia, PA
Event Flyer: Instagram
On April 25, 2024, anti-Israel activists from Penn, Temple University and Drexel University set up the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on the Penn campus to protest Israel's war against Hamas.
PPC also promoted the encampment by posting an Instagram graphic that said: "Join The Penn Encampment! Rally to Support Our Students and Stand With Gaza!"
The encampment was part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Date: January 15, 2024
Organizers: Philly Palestine Coalition (PPC),
Location: Malcolm X Park, Philadelphia, PA
Event Flyer: Instagram
On January 15, 2024, anti-Israel activist groups held a pro-terror rally in Philadelphia during Israel’s war against Hamas. The rally’s flier featured the logo of the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror group, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Rally speakers repeatedly promoted [00:01:35] hatred of America, praised [00:02:22] terrorists and spread [00:05:31] anti-Semitism.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by pro-terror activist Omar Barghouti in 2005 to turn “Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.” Barghouti has also called for Israel's destruction and the BDS movement demands would result in that same goal.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been infiltrating university campuses through lobbying for “BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments propose resolutions to boycott or divestment from Israel or Israeli-affiliated entities. BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents and pro-terror activism on campus.
