Kim Atienza supports daughter on anti-Israel protest: 'She's fighting for human rights'

Kim Atienza’s daughter, Eliana, claimed she had been kicked out of her dorm after participating in the pro-Palestine protests at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Anti-genocide siya. My daughter has been very vocal about what she believes in and part siya ng anti-genocide and anti-war organization,” said Kim Atienza, also known as "Kuya Kim," in a phone interview with GMA News Online.

“The family has been very supportive of her, and since we know she is fighting for human rights. Matapang siya e,” he added.

This comment was made after reports that his daughter, Eliana, was said to be among the six students who were suspended from campus for participating in a protest against Israel.

The 19-year-old Eliana had nobody to turn to for help in the United States after she was prohibited from entering her dorm and campus, as per NBC10 via KYW Newsradio.

According to Kuya Kim, Eliana was only banned from entering the school premises due to the protest.

“Well, she’s not really homeless, it was taken out of context. She did not say we were poor. She was just banned from entering the school premises and removed from her dorm,” he noted.  

Asked how he and the entire family reacted when they found out about Eliana getting kicked out, Kuya Kim said the first thing they ensured was her safety and well-being.

“We’ve always been there for her, and I don’t want to restrict her from doing anything as she is capable of making decisions. She has a heart of an activist e, and there’s nothing wrong with it because it’s the human rights she’s fighting for,” he added.

He also cleared that Eliana was not expelled from the university and she will be back in the next semester after their summer break.

"In an attempt to silence the growing movement, the University of Pennsylvania banned Eliana and five other students from campus. Eliana lives in a student dorm, and this ban meant that she could not go home,"  said Kuya Kim. 

He stressed that there are currently hundreds of encampments throughout the world and his daughter is just one of many students fighting for justice.

"Mama and papa are in full support of Eliana in her fight against genocide of Palestinians and unjust war in Gaza," added the "Dapat Alam Mo!" host. 

— CDC, GMA Integrated News