Washington, D.C.- Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)t, and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) have requested the Department of Education (DOE) respond to sharp increases in school-related Anti-Semitic incidents.
The letter comes amidst an increase in anti-Semitic behavior on college campuses following Hamas’ attacks on Israel and the latter’s subsequent invasion of Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Addressed to the Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the letter asks what measures the DOE will take to protect Jewish students and combat anti-Semitic violence.
Senator Rubio warned of potential consequences for schools if they fail to root out anti-Semitic behavior and protect their Jewish students.
“Schools that, by their inaction, enable threats and harassment against Jewish students are subject to losing their access to federal funds,” explained Rubio.
Antisemitic violence and harassment against Jewish students is on the rise after Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel.
Wrote to the Biden Administration with @SenTomCotton & @SenTedBuddNC on how @usedgov plans to protect these students.https://t.co/aYdCzHlxqM pic.twitter.com/wlhu6N7sgS
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) November 8, 2023
Florida Representative Matt Gaetz (R) recently explored what actions or speech may be considered anti-Semitic and the legal options available to combat them.
The debate over what counts as anti-Semitism and what doesn’t has even found its way into the Democratic party.
Recently, Representative Jared Moskowitz (D) joined 22 Democrats in effectively censuring Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) for her anti-Israel statements.
Representative Moskowitz explained Tlaib’s statements not only undermine Israel, but were also unforgivably anti-Semitic.
Moskowitz cited Tlaib’s use of “from the river to the sea,” and explained that it “means the destruction of Israel and everyone who’s in it.” “Just like ‘Mein Kamp’ is not a coloring book and the final solution means exactly what Hitler meant it to mean,” Moskowitz added.
