Organizers of a Plano forum on antisemitism abruptly pulled the plug on the event’s virtual feed Thursday night after the Zoom stream was hijacked, according to attendees. The session, held inside a synagogue and focused on antisemitism on college campuses, drew about 40 people, both in-person and online. When hostile images and text suddenly took over the shared screen, leaders stopped the livestream, moved the discussion offline, and began collecting material for law enforcement.
Hostile Video And 'Free Palestine' Scribbles Hijack Screen
As reported by CBS News, a video of a man shouting anti-Israeli rhetoric briefly replaced the planned presentation, while the words “Free Palestine” were scrawled across the slides. "Of course, we were scared," Mothers Against College Antisemitism board president Miriam Zivin told CBS, saying the interruption appeared deliberate and aimed at derailing the conversation. Organizers said they shut down the virtual feed as a precaution and are compiling screenshots and video clips to turn over to police.
National Spike Meets Local Tensions
The disruption unfolded against a wider national surge in anti-Jewish activity: ADL recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents in its 2024 audit, including a sharp rise on college campuses. In Plano, fights over school curriculum and campus rhetoric have already drawn statewide attention, with the attorney general opening a probe into Plano ISD last year, as reported by the Dallas Morning News. Organizers said that the backdrop helps explain why even a relatively small community meeting came with extra vigilance.
Organizers Plan To Hand Evidence To Police
As outlined by CBS News, roughly 40 people were participating in person and online when the hijack occurred. Miriam Zivin, who helped launch the DFW chapter of Mothers Against College Antisemitism, has been active in local organizing and campus advocacy, according to a profile on The Times of Israel. Leaders said they intend to keep holding forums but will tighten digital security and more carefully control who is allowed to share screens.
Reporting And Next Steps
Organizers told CBS they are preparing a police report and will give investigators the screenshots and recordings they have gathered. The ADL recommends documenting incidents and reporting them both to law enforcement and to civil rights organizations. Its site includes guidance for victims and witnesses. For now, the group said future events will rely on stricter settings for screen sharing and tighter controls on access to hybrid links.
Organizers emphasized that the disruption will not silence their efforts. They urged anyone who recorded or witnessed the hijacked feed to contact them or local police so the footage can be preserved.
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