Stop talking, start teaching: New York must fight to end antisemitism in our schools

Over 500 days person passed since Hamas’ brutal October 7th attack—the deadliest battle connected Jews since the Holocaust. 

More than 500 days of platitudes from definite politicians. More than 500 days of bare words. And yet, hatred against Jews isn’t declining—it’s exploding. In New York, location to the largest Jewish colonisation extracurricular Israel, Jewish students aren’t conscionable unwelcome, they’re unsafe.

Jewish students crossed New York are nether siege. The numbers don’t lie:

• 72% of Jewish students consciousness unwelcome connected campus.
• 52% person personally experienced antisemitism astatine their school.
• 67% accidental their assemblage did thing to support them aft October 7th.
• 43% actively fell their Jewish individuality retired of fear.

This situation is real, and it’s getting worse. Reports spot New York successful the "Hall of Shame" for field antisemitism. Institutions similar Cornell, Columbia, The New School and NYU person received failing grades for their handling of attacks connected Jews. City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) schools person besides been plagued by repeated incidents of antisemitic harassment. It’s beyond unacceptable—it’s a disgrace.

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The NYPD cleared pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Barnard College aft a radical of pupil protesters occupied Milstein Library connected Wednesday night. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Let’s beryllium clear: escaped code does not mean escaped rein to terrorize Jewish students. At Barnard College, we’ve witnessed pro-Palestinian schoolroom disruptions, protesters storming the campus, injuring a schoolhouse worker and escalating tensions beyond control. These individuals weren’t expressing an opinion. They were making it intolerable for Jewish students to safely learn.

Students person the close to protest. They bash not person the close to commandeer property, intimidate their classmates oregon dispersed convulsive hate. If you transverse the enactment from protestation to persecution, the due effect isn’t a warning. It’s expulsion. While states similar Florida and Texas are taking bold action, New York’s enactment remains dormant astatine the wheel. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams present the aforesaid bushed speeches, condemn hatred successful property releases and past bash nothing. Jewish students are inactive being harassed, assaulted and silenced. New York’s Democratic leaders instrumentality the Jewish ballot for granted—but they shouldn’t. They person allowed this situation to fester nether their watch.

As a arrogant Jewish-American legislator and a subordinate of the Jewish Legislators Caucus successful the New York State Assembly, I garbage to basal by portion our students are forced to unrecorded successful fear. Fighting antisemitism isn’t astir politics. It’s astir motivation clarity. And that’s wherefore I’m taking action.

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A pistillate holds a poster of Israeli hostage Omer Neutra during a memorial vigil for the Israeli radical killed by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack, successful New York City connected Nov. 1, 2023. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

I introduced the United Against Hate Act, a bold, common-sense program to combat antisemitism done education, awareness, and action. My measure includes:

1. A "New York Stands with Israel" License Plate – allowing New Yorkers to proudly show their enactment portion backing hostage rescue efforts.
2. A Statewide High School Art Competition – teaching students astir the dangers of antisemitism and the world of October 7th done originative expression.

This isn’t conscionable astir policy—it’s astir making definite the adjacent procreation understands that Jew hatred is not an abstract concept. It’s a existent and contiguous danger.

While New York’s Democratic leaders connection articulator service, President Donald Trump has been the strongest defender of Jewish students successful America. His medication took existent enactment against field antisemitism erstwhile others lone offered bare words. President Trump’s enforcement bid connected Combatting Antisemitism empowered the Department of Education to clasp universities accountable nether Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Because of this order, the national authorities has launched investigations into 5 universities wherever antisemitic harassment has tally rampant. That’s what existent enactment looks like. And that’s the modular we should demand.

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Protesters show adjacent Columbia University connected Feb. 2, 2024 successful New York City. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

History volition justice america by what we bash astatine this moment. Will we basal by portion hatred against Jews spreads unchecked, oregon volition we instrumentality bold enactment to halt it?

Jewish students should not person to fell their individuality to consciousness harmless astatine school. They shouldn’t person to wonderment whether their professors, classmates oregon administrators volition support their rights. And they surely shouldn’t beryllium near to fend for themselves portion politicians connection thing but hollow statements. If schools and universities garbage to act, past we indispensable clasp them accountable. If they tolerate antisemitism, they should beryllium defunded—plain and simple.

This is simply a trial of motivation clarity. I cognize wherever I stand. Where bash New York’s leaders stand?