Today, two dozen Jewish and civil rights advocacy organizations wrote to the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, William J. Howell, in support of HB 2261. This bill would amend the Virginia Code to recognize anti-Semitism as a form of unlawful discriminatory practice. In their letter, the organizations explained how anti-Semitism is an urgent and compounding problem at Virginia state schools and nationwide. HB 2261 presents a remedy to this problem by requiring universities to use the U.S. Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism when determining the intent of persons accused of violating school conduct policies. The organizations highlighted that the VA bill would not restrict speech or infringe upon First Amendment rights. The letter to Speaker Howell reads: Dear Speaker Howell, We write on behalf of national Jewish and civil rights organizations who are concerned about anti-Semitism in Virginia and support HB 2261. We believe that this bill, sponsored by Delegate David LaRock, along with Delegate Mark L. Cole, provides a necessary and measured response to the recurrence of anti-Jewish hate. Specifically, it supplies Virginia state universities with important, internationally recognized tools to ascertain the intent of people who are accused of certain conduct that violates university policies. HB 2261 responds to increasing levels of anti-Semitism on university campuses nationwide, including in Virginia’s excellent system of public colleges and universities. The following examples are a few anti-Semitic incidents that occurred on Virginia state university campuses in 2016: Swastika graffiti in a residence hall bathroom at the College of William and Mary. Holocaust imagery spray-painted on a student housing building at the University of Virginia, including an orange Star of David and the word Juden, the German word for Jews. Numerous fliers for a local Nazi chapter posted on the Old Dominion University campus, portraying a swastika and stating, “Old Dominion University – You have been visited by The AtomWaffen Division. Join our Local Nazis.” The fliers directed students to a website replete with graphic, hateful, anti-Semitic messages. At George Mason University, anti-Israel activists reportedly threatened to “f*** up a Zionist” disparaging Jews as “Zionist terrorists.” The propagation of anti-Semitism on Virginia state university campuses mirrors a similar surge nationwide. According to the FBI, Jewish hate crime victims outnumber victims of all other religious groups combined. This problem is especially rampant on America’s college campuses. Researchers at Trinity College and Brandeis University have found that more than half of Jewish students reported experiencing or witnessing anti-Semitism in 2014 and 2015. Anti-Semitic incidents at universities increased by 45% from 2015 to 2016, according to an AMCHA Initiative study. The events of 2016 prove that anti-Semitism at Virginia state schools is an urgent and compounding problem—one that demands the effective solutions proposed in HB 2261. The bill is a simple but necessary remedy that requires universities to use the State Department definition to ascertain the motivation of persons accused of conduct that violates university conduct policies, such as vandalism of school property or assaults on Jewish students. We are pleased that HB 2261 was carefully drafted to ensure compliance with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Despite some misconceptions about the bill, we note that HB 2261 does not restrict any speech whatsoever. Rather, it provides for the utilization of a widely respected U.S. State Department definition to determine the intent of certain unlawful conduct. We hope that you will pass HB 2261, for the protection of all Virginia students, to ensure that Virginia preserves its noble legacy as the cradle of religious liberty. Sincerely, Academic Council for Israel Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi) Alums for Campus Fairness AMCHA Initiative American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists Americans for Peace and Tolerance Club Z Eagles Wings Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) Fuel For Truth Iranian American Jewish Federation The Israel Christian Nexus The Israel Group The Israel Institute Israel Peace Initiative (IPI) Jerusalem U The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law Middle East Political and Information Network (MEPIN) Proclaiming Justice to the Nations Scholars for Peace in the Middle East Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi Stop BDS on Campus Students and Parents Against Campus Anti- Semitism Zionist Organization of America
On Tuesday, January 24, Prof. Thane Rosenbaum will speak to the LDB chapter at UC Berkeley School of Law on the topic of, “Israel & International Law: UN Resolutions and their Human Rights Implications.” Rosenbaum is a distinguished fellow at NYU School of Law, an essayist, law professor, and author of the novels, How Sweet It Is!, The Stranger Within Sarah Stein, The Golems of Gotham, Second Hand Smoke, and Elijah Visible. His articles, reviews and essays appear frequently in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Haaretz, Huffington Post and Daily Beast, among other national publications. He moderates an annual series of discussions on culture, world events and politics at the 92nd Street Y called The Talk Show. He is a Distinguished Fellow at New York University School of Law where he directs the Forum on Law, Culture & Society. He is the author of Payback: The Case for Revenge and The Myth of Moral Justice: Why Our Legal System Fails to Do What’s Right. He is the editor of the anthology, Law Lit, from Atticus Finch to “The Practice,”: A Collection of Great Writing about the Law. His forthcoming book is entitled The High Cost of Free Speech: Rethinking the First Amendment.
JNS.Org January 24, 2017 Virginia lawmakers are considering a new bill to help school administrators better combat anti-Semitism on state universities following a string of incidents in the past year. The bill, known as HB 2261 that was introduced by Delegates Dave A. LaRock and Mark L. Cole, enables Virginia state colleges to possess better tools to target anti-Semitism while not infringing upon students’ First Amendment right to free speech. The bill ensures that authorities consider the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism when deciding whether an activity was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. “Delegate LaRock has introduced important legislation that can help ensure that all Virginia state university students are provided an equal opportunity to an outstanding Virginia education,” said Kenneth L. Marcus, president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, a non-profit organization that works to advance civil and human rights of Jewish people. “I am pleased that Delegate LaRock was careful to draft the bill in a way that protects the freedom of speech of all students and professors.” The bill comes amid a number of anti-Semitic incidents on public universities across Virginia. In November, anti-Semitic graffiti was found in a residence hall bathroom, while a month prior, Holocaust imagery was discovered on the University of Virginia. Additionally, at Old Dominion University last March, multiple fliers portraying a swastika and Nazi-supporting messages were posted on poles on campus and students at George Mason University were threatened by an anti-Israel activists who promised to “f*** up a Zionist,” while others another disparaged Jews as “Zionist terrorists” and said that “Zionists are so ugly.” Original Article