Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and 27 of their Senate colleagues have introduced the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act.
Per Senator Britt’s press department this act, “Would help combat the antisemitic bigotry and targeted harassment of the Jewish community that has been growing on college campuses, especially in the wake of Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Specifically, the Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the U.S. Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. The legislation is similar to S.3141, which was introduced by Senators Scott, Britt, and a group of Republican colleagues in October.”
“Now more than ever, we must send a resounding message that antisemitism has no place in America. Make no mistake – ‘Never Again’ is now, and not just overseas,” said Senator Britt.“Whether it’s on college campuses or the streets of our nation’s largest cities, there is a disturbing amount of people unable or unwilling to distinguish good from evil. Meanwhile, extremists chant ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Israel,’ and even explicitly pro-Hamas refrains and open calls for the eradication of the Jewish people. Let me be crystal clear – any non-citizen on U.S. soil who supports Hamas should be immediately deported, and any American educational institution authorizing, facilitating, or otherwise supporting pro-terrorism activities should lose every cent of federal funding and subsidization. I am proud to stand with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Alabama, across our country, and abroad.”
“Our nation’s institutions of higher learning have become hotbeds of antisemitism, especially in the wake of the brutal attacks against Israel and innocent civilians by Hamas and Iran,” said Senator Scott. “It’s critical the Department of Education has the tools and resources it needs to investigate antisemitism and root out this vile hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.”
“Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on October 7 led to a dramatic increase in antisemitism on college campuses,” said Senator Casey. “Amidst this appalling increase, we must do everything we can to protect Jewish students on college campuses. This bill will make sure that going forward, the Education Department will take action against all forms of antisemitic discrimination.”
The Antisemitism Awareness Act is also cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
The Senators requested Attorney General Garland and Secretary Cardona provide an update on efforts to protect Jewish students by today, Wednesday, April 24. This letter comes as Columbia University announced yesterday they would shift to hybrid learning for the remainder of the semester due to the extreme threats recent antisemitic protests pose to Jewish students.
“You need to take action to restore order and protect Jewish students on our college campuses. President Biden issued a statement on Sunday, purporting to condemn the outbreak of anti-Semitism. If that statement was serious, it must be accompanied by immediate action from your departments,” wrote the Senators. “Rioting violates federal law. Violence or attempted violence against anyone because of their Jewish heritage violates federal law. School administrators’ failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination or harassment violates federal law and is grounds for those schools losing access to federal funds. Espousing support for terrorists such as Hamas violates federal immigration law and is grounds for deportation,” they continued.
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