Kim Atienza supports daughter’s involvement in anti-Israel protest
KIM ATIENZA – The television host has addressed the controversy surrounding his daughter, Eliana Atienza, and her recent participation in pro-Palestine protests at the University of Pennsylvania.
The father of the 19-year-old sophomore student stated that he and his family fully support Eliana and her causes. He emphasized that she is not pro-Hamas. “Eliana has always been vocal about what she believes in. In this instance she’s part of the organization that is anti-genocide and anti-war,” Atienza explained.
According to the New York Post, Eliana and five other students were suspended from campus two weeks ago for participating in a protest encampment against Israel’s war with Hamas, a response to its deadly terror attack. The UPenn protest encampment was one of many across the US in the past two months.
Recently, Eliana faced criticism from US conservative media outlets like Fox News and the NY Post for her involvement in the campus protest. Reports highlighted her affluent background after she reportedly claimed she was left “homeless” when administrators removed her from campus for participating in the anti-Israel encampment.
Atienza clarified that his daughter’s remark was taken out of context. “She was technically homeless because she was removed from her dorm. Unfortunately, that message was taken out of context. She never said she was poor,” he stated.
He also mentioned that his daughter was not expelled. “She had some academic sanctions, but she will be back in the next semester as they are on summer break right now,” Atienza said.
Meanwhile, student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza are spreading across the US, with nearly 550 arrests reported in the past week at major universities. Students are demanding that universities cut ties with companies supporting Israel’s military actions in Gaza and, in some cases, with Israel itself. The protests have led to clashes with police and arrests at several universities, including Columbia University, the University of Southern California, Emerson College, and Emory University. Some universities have called in police to end the demonstrations, while others are waiting as the academic semester nears its end.