THE BRANDEIS CENTER PRAISES UC PRESIDENT JANET NAPOLITANO’S SUPPORT FOR STATE DEP’T DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM

Washington, D.C.: The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB), a national civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C., commends University of California President Janet Napolitano for personally supporting the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism. In an interview with Boston NPR’s Here and Now, President Napolitano said that she personally agrees with the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism, which states that anti-Semitism manifests itself in regards to the state of Israel when Israel is demonized, delegitimized, and held to a double standard, not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

“This is a major step in combating the poorly veiled anti-Semitism on college campuses masquerading as criticism of Israel’s policies,” said LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus.

The Brandeis Center, along with 22 other organizations sent a letter to President Napolitano in March urging the UC Board of Regents to consider adopting the State Department’s definition. The Regents will be discussing whether to adopt the definition at their next meeting in July. President Napolitano’s public support is a step in the right direction.