Plane with ‘Brown 4 Israel’ banner circles Rhode Island college’s opening ceremony

During Brown University's Opening Convocation, a plane circled overhead displaying a "Brown 4 Israel" banner with American and Israeli flags. This initiative, organized by the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel (RICI) and Brown Jewish Alumni & Friends (BJAF), aimed to "make sure Jewish students feel like they’re not alone" and demonstrate support for Israel, according to RICI Executive Director Maria Friedman. Originally planned for graduation, the flyover was rescheduled due to weather. While Friedman reported a largely positive reception, some Jewish students expressed mixed reactions to the display. The university has also recently entered into agreements with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to address complaints of antisemitic discrimination and strengthen its Jewish community.