16/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 17/04/2024 01:43
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus. Currently, the Department of Education lacks a clear definition of antisemitism when determining whether an antisemitic or anti-Israel incident on campus crosses the line from free speech into harassing, unlawful, or discriminatory conduct.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, violent language and threats against the Jewish community and Israel increased 488% in the first 18 hours after Hamas' terror attacks on October 7, 2023.
"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."
"We thank Senator Scott and Senator Casey for reintroducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act and thank them for their steadfast leadership over the years on this issues. Antisemitism has been increasing on college campuses, and it has only gotten worse after 10/7. Jewish students feeling the need to hide their Jewish identity, and leaving many Jewish students in fear," said Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations CEO William Daroff. "In order to begin to address the problem of antisemitism, there must be clarity about what antisemitism actually is. The IHRA working definition provides guidance in addressing this challenge. It is imperative to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act to give universities and the Department of Education the guidance and tools they need to fight campus antisemitism."
"We welcome the introduction of the Antisemitism Awareness Act. Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem, it's everyone's problem. Long before the Oct 7 massacre, antisemitism was running rampant on college campuses across the country. Since the massacre, antisemitic acts are on full display in its most vile and despicable form - support of Hamas and the annihilation of Jews," said Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker. "When the administration's Press Secretary can't acknowledge the blatant Jew hatred rising in America, then it's time to raise the standard. This act does just that, the Department of Education must do more to combat the scourge of anti-Jewish hatred, and we believe codifying the IHRA definition will help ensure that the department will not stray from this vital mission."
Senator Scott was joined in leading the Antisemitism Awareness Act by Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), 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.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), 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-Texas), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
The IHRA definition of antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, often expressed as hatred toward Jews, which includes:
In the wake of the October 7th attack, Senator Scott has unequivocally stood with Israel and against antisemitism by: