From Kate Alexander of PANYS
Subject: Student Activism Threatened: House Bill Brands Student Criticism of
Israel as Anti-Semitic
Legislation Re-Defining All Student Criticism of Israel as Anti-Semitic
Senate Bill Passes in Less than Two Days; House Bill Introduced
Stop Attacks on Student Debate and Activism!
Last semester, students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges hosted an
informal discussion with over 80 students on Palestinian refugee
identities. Palestinian refugees shared their experiences in a meaningful
conversation with students working to understand the human consequences of
the Israel-Palestine conflict. Under legislation passed by the Senate and
being considered by the House today, this event would label our student
activists as anti-Semitic.
In less than two days, the Senate unanimously passed legislation that
instructs the Department of Education to re-define anti-Semitism to include
criticisms of Israel – targeting student education and activism.
On Friday, H.R. 6421 – called the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act – was
introduced by Representatives Roskam (R-FL) and Deu