Following the horrifying terrorist attack in Israel committed by Hamas which left 1,200 Israelis dead and thousands wounded, pro-Palestinian groups around the United States – on street corners and college campuses – have gathered to support the Arab nation and in some instances, Hamas itself. Upon seeing these shocking assemblies supporting a terrorist organization, Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) urged President Joe Biden (D) and his administration to act.
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, Rep. Buchanan and his colleagues asserted that the Biden administration should “take prompt and appropriate action” by conversing with colleges and universities surrounding the hostile environments that have been created for Jewish students.
That’s why I’m calling on the Biden administration to immediately engage with these institutions to help combat any instances of harassment and antisemitism. (4/4) pic.twitter.com/nr1WoEzHhh
— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) October 12, 2023
“We write to express our concern for the wellbeing and safety of Jewish students in the United States. Within hours of the unprovoked and horrific attack on Israeli citizens, collegiate organizations released alarming and inflammatory statements supporting the violence that has left over 1,000 innocent civilians dead, including Americans,” wrote Rep. Buchanan and the other lawmakers.
They would go on to mention that President Biden himself declared that Hamas’ main goal is to “Kill Jews.” The letter would also provide clarity about organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine – which, the lawmakers argue, have created “a hostile environment for Jewish students” through their usage of pro-Hamas imagery.
Examples of pro-Hamas rhetoric used by student organizations include imagery of Palestinian (Hamas) paragliders in their advertisements, a tactic that enabled Hamas to kill over 1,000 Israeli citizens.
Buchanan and his colleagues continued, “Schools have a legal obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide all students, including Jewish students, a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics…However, as demonstrated by the rhetoric and recent actions of students across the country, antisemitic beliefs on college campuses are rampant and must not go unchallenged.”
The Florida congressman himself put out a statement on social media alongside the letter that he signed.
So-called elite academic institutions like Harvard need to immediately condemn such disgusting actions. (2/4)
— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) October 12, 2023
“Extremely disturbing to see so many pro-Hamas comments and demonstrations popping up on college campuses across the country in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attacks launched against Israel. So-called elite academic institutions like Harvard need to immediately condemn such disgusting actions.” Buchanan continued, “Antisemitism has no place in this country, and there is no moral equivalency between Hamas’ brutal attacks on innocent men, women and children and Israel defending itself and its citizens. That’s why I’m calling on the Biden administration to immediately engage with these institutions to help combat any instances of harassment and antisemitism.”
This is a developing story.
