Several high-profile figures have circulated a baseless conspiracy theory linking George Soros to funding pro-Palestinian student protests on U.S. university campuses. However, the reality behind the identical tents used by the students is simply due to their affordability and availability. A recent online investigation revealed that these tents can be purchased for as little as $15, making them a cost-effective choice for students. Contrary to the conspiracy theory, the uniformity of the tents does not suggest a coordinated effort by a shadowy organization.
In response to the peaceful student protests, there has been a backlash attempting to delegitimize the demonstrations by alleging external control. This pushback has included calls for aggressive tactics to dismantle the protests, which have been wrongly compared to “pogroms” in some instances. Pro-Israel voices have attempted to shift the narrative away from freedom of speech, accusing outside manipulation of the protests.
The conspiracy gained traction when officials like New York City Mayor Eric Adams and law enforcement officers raised suspicions about the uniformity of the tents, implying a coordination effort behind the demonstrations. Despite these claims, the reality remains that the students’ choice of tents is based on cost-effective options readily available online.
