Arkansas Attorney General Griffin co-leads 25-state coalition in letter expressing concern over antisemitism at Columbia University amid calls for divestment from Israel

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement that he and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson have sent a letter on behalf of 23 other state attorneys general to Columbia University about the rise of antisemitism on its campus from groups promoting boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel:

“Since the Hamas attack on Israel last October, antisemitism has grown on university campuses, including Columbia University. Earlier this month, one Columbia anti-Israel student group advocating divestment rescinded its apology of a member’s remark about killing Zionists.

“In spite of antisemitic protests on its campus, Columbia has held the line against the BDS movement and should be commended for it. Our coalition urges Columbia to continue this position in the face of antisemitism from pro-Palestinian student groups while balancing student speech rights.”

In August, Griffin led a coalition of 24 state attorneys general in a letter urging Brown University to reject a proposal that the university divest from certain companies because they do business with Israel, thus triggering anti-BDS laws in several states. On October 9, the Brown Corporation announced that it rejected the proposal backed by student protestors who demanded the vote as a condition to disperse.

To read the letter, click here.

Columbia University - Wikimedia Commons Image

Boozman, Tim Scott introduce resolution condemning campus Anitsemitism

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced a resolution to condemn the recent explosion of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, call out university presidents who have enabled and refused to take action against this antisemitism and urge the Biden Department of Education to take necessary actions to ensure that colleges and universities are complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students.

“College and university administrators as well as the Biden administration have a duty to protect Jewish students on campus and forcefully condemn the antisemitism and hate on display across too many higher education institutions. There is no excuse for half-hearted efforts or stalling. I’m proud to join Sen. Scott and our colleagues in standing up for Israel and the Jewish Americans who deserve this basic protection,” Boozman said.

“Antisemitism is rearing its ugly head at college campuses across our nation. Jewish students are being targeted with violence and harassment, and the university presidents and administrators, who should be defending them, are caving to the radical mob and allowing chaos to spread,” said Scott. “Every Jewish student has the right to attend class, study, and walk campus safely. The ‘adults’ who refuse to uphold that right must be held accountable.”

The resolution is cosponsored by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Boozman, Casey, Scott Introduce Bill to Combat Antisemitism on College Campuses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act. The bill will help address antisemitic sentiment and action on college campuses, which has been rising across the nation for years and spiked in the wake of Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, by requiring the U.S. Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. 

“Colleges and universities have seen a disturbing trend of emboldened intimidation and hate towards Jewish students, faculty and others in the wake of Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel. This intolerable and horrifying behavior has no place in our academic community, and the Department of Education should move swiftly to hold accountable anyone promoting antisemitism on campus,” Boozman said.

“Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on October 7 led to a dramatic increase in antisemitism on college campuses,” said 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.”

“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 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.” 

The Antisemitism Awareness Act would make permanent the Department of Education’s usage of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which is a vital tool helping to clarify and identify the various manifestations of prejudice and hate against the state of Israel and the Jewish community. Since 2018, the Department of Education has used the IHRA definition when investigating violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

In addition to Boozman, Casey and Scott, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rick Scott (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).