The Department of Justice announced a new task force to investigate anti-Jewish harassment on college campuses following a rise in incidents after the Hamas attack in Israel. President Trump issued an executive order emphasizing the need to combat antisemitism, while universities grapple with defining and addressing the issue. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition has become a point of contention, with FIRE arguing it could stifle free speech.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the formation of a new task force dedicated to investigating anti-Jewish harassment on college campuses . This comes on the heels of an executive order by President Trump, titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” which addresses the “unacceptable” treatment Jewish students have faced since the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.
The executive order points to reports of intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assaults against Jewish students.According to the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Antisemitism Research, 73% of Jewish students across the nation have experienced some form of discrimination on campus during the 2023-2024 school year. To effectively counter this issue, universities need to first define antisemitism. Alex Horn, regional director of ADL Texoma, emphasizes the importance of adopting clear definitions. Last month, Harvard University joined hundreds of other campuses, including several in the Dallas area, in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition, lauded by the ADL, includes eleven examples of antisemitic bias, such as “accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust,” while also offering a more general definition. Horn states that many organizations in the DFW area have adopted the IHRA definition because it demonstrates a commitment to combating hate toward the Jewish community. The University of North Texas, the University of Texas Dallas, and the University of Texas Arlington each list the IHRA definition of antisemitism in their campus policies. The adopted definition aligns with a state executive order issued last year by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, which mandated all public schools in the state to include the IHRA definition in their campus free speech policies. The governor’s order also specified that “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a phrase Abbott deemed antisemitic, should be considered antisemitic. While the ADL defines the phrase as such, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) believes it should be protected free speech. FIRE has challenged the order, arguing that it creates a chilling effect on free speech. Student groups at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, and the University of Texas at Dallas joined FIRE in legal action. Last fall, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the groups were “likely to succeed” in proving that the policies instituted after the executive order resulted in a chilling effect on free speech. The case is currently pending, and Texas is temporarily barred from enforcing the order. FIRE broadly criticizes the 'vague' and “broad” IHRA antisemitism definition, warning that it could lead to students being penalized for criticizing Israel. FIRE’s latest campus free speech survey revealed that 66% of professors at UT Dallas and 70% at UT Austin reported difficulty having “open and honest conversations” about the Israel-Palestine conflict. FIRE attorney Zach Greenberg warns that the policy could deter students and professors from discussing any topics related to Israel for fear of being silenced
Politics Antisemitism College Campuses IHRA Free Speech Task Force Executive Order Hamas Attack Jewish Students
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