Top Democrat Warns Universities That Ignore Anti-Semitism and Harassment of Jewish Students They Might Face Civil Rights Probes

Isaac SchorrOct 26th, 2023, 11:35 am
 

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) is suggesting that the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights should get involved if universities fail to adequately respond to the threats against and harassment of Jewish students on their campuses.

On Wednesday, video of anti-Israel protesters pressing themselves against a school library’s doors at Cooper Union in New York City and chanting as Jewish students hid inside went viral on social media.

Video shows the Jewish students attempting to study inside of the library as the crowd presses against the glass windows of the building screaming at the students. Three of the Jewish students barricaded inside of the building told New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov that they were terrified and that protesters shouted “globalize the intifada from New York to Gaza.”

The incident followed a controversy from earlier this week when students at George Washington University celebrated Hamas’ attack on Israeli civilians earlier this month by projecting the words “Glory to Our Martyrs” onto a campus building.

On Thursday, Nadler issued a statement about the recent spate of anti-Semitism on campuses:

The overwhelming surge of antisemitism in our country—some of which is protected, albeit vile speech—has also resulted in defacement, threats, intimidation and outright violence, all of which is illegal. Law enforcement must act swiftly, precisely and forcefully in response, to bring justice and stem the tide

But on campus, there are often also codes about hate speech and a culture of safety, and Jewish students must have access to the protections of school administrations in these cases, just as all students do. Students must have easily accessible and fair claims processes that can produce outcomes in reasonable time frames, and where the claimants don’t have to fear retribution.

And if the school fails to respond appropriately, they may be in violation of federal civil right laws. The federal Office of Civil Rights @edcivilrights at @usedgov is the place to send those claims, as it has the authority and responsibility to enforce those laws.

Protests celebrating Hamas’ attack and decrying the Israeli response have broken out in numerous major cities and college campuses, with their ire often directed at American Jews.

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