US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is celebrating the inclusion of amendments in the Senate’s Appropriations Committee he proposed to combat antisemitism in American college campuses.
Antisemitic incidents have feverishly risen since Hamas’ October 7th attacks on Israel, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
In the months following the attacks, ADL reports a 360% increase in antisemitic events, which include physical assault, vandalism, verbal harassment, and more violent acts aimed at Jews.
Senator Rubio has been a poignant defender of Israel and the US’ jewish community and has increased his advocacy for the same since Hamas’ attacks.
Rubio’s latest efforts to combat antisemitism feature legislation that would force Universities receiving federal aid to develop campus policies to prevent and push back against antisemitism.
The Senate Appropriations Committee, which reviews omnibus spending bills, adopted Rubio’s amendment to a bill conditioning education funding on Universities’ developing such policies.
“In this new school year, we can't allow Jewish students to endure last school year's historic levels of antisemitism,” said Rubio. “This month, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted my amendment so colleges develop campus policies against antisemitism.”
The US education system was rocked by a series of campus protests near the end of last semester.
Protestors frustrated with Israel’s war against Hamas demanded their Universities divest from Israeli companies and generally disconnect from Israel as a sign of support for Palestine.
The protests became increasingly controversial as they would frequently turn violent and diffuse antisemitic messages.
On his end, Rubio called such protestors criminal “trespassers” and “vandals.”
“These are not campus protestors, these are campus rioters. These are trespassers. These are vandals. These are violent antisemites,” said Rubio.
