The Israel-Palestine conflict has become a ‘Which side are you on?’ conflict. Ever since the war began, there has been loss of lives, with brutalities taking place at an excessive scale on both sides.
On social media, as in real life, the lines have been drawn too. Massive protest rallies have been organized all over the world; people are tearing down posters of the missing people, etc.
One such person who has been caught doing the latter is Olivia Lynch, and her actions have sparked massive online protests. But who is she?
Olivia Lynch is an educator and artist for four years at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. In a viral 32-second video, she can be seen tearing down the posters of missing Israeli children and adults. When questioned, she said, “F**k Israel, f**k you. f**k your propaganda.” Many online are calling for her termination from employment.
Who Is Olivia Lynch?
Olivia Lynch sparked protests online when she was caught tearing down various posters of the Israeli hostages currently being held by Hamas. The video of her actions has gone viral, and amidst a wave of people accusing her of anti-semitism, people want to know who she is.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Olivia Lynch has been working in Brooklyn, New York, as an educator and artist at Prospect Park for the last four years. Her bio on the site, now locked, reads:
“As an artist and musician, she often merges her creative and teaching practices with one another, and is always thrilled to see what children can create in an environment that is encouraging and respectful of their ideas.”
Lynch studied at the Bard College Berlin and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College. She has a Bachelor’s degree in German language and art studies. As per her LinkedIn account, which has now been deleted, she was also employed by the Simon Lee Gallery, Willamette Week, Brooklyn Nature Days, and Miss Read Book Fair.
Her official Instagram account had 576 followers before she went private. But why?
Why Is Olivia Lynch Going Viral Online?
In a 32-second-long viral video, Olivia Lynch can be seen ripping off the posters of the people (kids and adults) who Hamas is holding. The man recording the vandalism asks her why she is doing so. Here’s what the man said:
“Because I was in the Israeli army, and you guys don’t know sh*t. That six-month-old really did a lot to you, huh?” (In response to her tearing off a poster of a missing Israeli child)
Lynch then flipped off the man and said:
“F**k Israel, f**k you. f**k your propaganda.”
Lynch was accompanied by a man, who was seen smoking a cigarette in the video. His identity has yet to be confirmed.
At the time of writing, the video had gone viral and had more than a million views across various social media platforms. Many are calling for her termination from employment.
One Twitter/ X user, @HaC2a, tweeted, “#OliviaLynch needs to be fired and cast aside like the rest of the nazi sympathisers! I hope for you there is no God. How evil can some one be????”
Another user, @danjacob121, wrote, “Listen to Olivia Lynch’s laugh at the 5 seconds mark. What a disgusting laugh. I wonder if she belongs in some sort of insane asylum due to a chemical imbalance.”
There has been a remarkable rise in instances of anti-semitism in the West as a result of the ongoing war. London’s Metropolitan Police said that the city had witnessed a staggering 1,353% increase in antisemitic offenses and threats compared to last year.
Also, as per the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), anti-semitic incidents have risen over 388% in the US in the weeks following the war between Israel and Palestine.
There have also been incidences of attacks on Jewish institutions and synagogues in Spain and Portugal. Events planned by Jewish organizations had to be canceled because the police couldn’t ensure the safety of the participants.
Meanwhile, the death toll is rising. As per The Jefferson Public Radio (TJPR), over 10,000 people have died in Gaza, and 1,400 Israeli lives have been lost as well.
What do you think of Olivia Lynch’s actions? Was it justified? Let us know in the comments below.
Let us know in the comments below.
