Washington, DC (December 10, 2019) – The Republican Jewish Coalition thanks President Trump for extending the protections of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Jewish students facing anti-Semitism on college campuses.
RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said:
This is a truly historic and important moment for Jewish Americans. President Trump has extended to Jewish students very strong, meaningful legal protection from anti-Semitic discrimination.
Sadly, every day, Jewish students on college campuses face outrageous attacks on their Jewish identity and beliefs. The rapid increase in such incidents in recent years is of great concern.
We have very good reasons to call Donald Trump the most pro-Israel President in American history. He has shown his friendship for our wonderful ally, the state of Israel, again and again – recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital, moving the US embassy there, and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
President Trump has shown himself to be the most pro-JewishPresident as well. Today’s executive order will have a real, positive impact in protecting Jewish college students from anti-Semitism.
We are grateful for his action today and we are so proud to call him our President!
RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:
Demonizing Israel and holding American Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions are examples of anti-Semitism. Those are exactly the kind of hateful attacks that Jewish college students face on campuses across this country.
Hatred must be fought every day and everywhere it is found. President Trump has pledged to do that, and today is another example of him keeping his promises to the American people.
Background:
President Donald Trump's executive order extends the protections of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Jewish students suffering from anti-Semitic discrimination on college campuses. It incorporates in Title VI the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which includes anti-Semitic attacks in the guise of "anti-Zionist" or "anti-Israel" statements or actions.
The Department of Education has advised educational institutions that, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, they "must take prompt and effective steps" to combat discriminatory harassment, which includes anti-Semitic harassment.
But the Department had not provided guidance regarding current manifestations of anti-Semitism, notably anti-Semitism that is couched in the language of "anti-Zionism."
The extension of Title VI to include anti-Semitic discrimination is the goal of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (ASAA), legislation currently pending in Congress. The ASAA would clarify the existing law that prohibits anti-Semitic harassment by adding the definition of anti-Semitism that the State Department already uses, as a resource that civil rights investigators may use in evaluating discrimination complaints, especially on college campuses.
The Senate passed the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act in 2016, but the House failed to follow suit. This year, the bill has bipartisan support in the Senate, but was boycotted by Democrats in the House, with even the members who cosponsored the bill in previous sessions of Congress refusing to sign on.
President Trump’s executive order enacts the principles of the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act.
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