A state Senate resolution urging each University of California campus to condemn anti-Semitism and racism faces opposition from civil rights and pro-Palestine groups who say they think its definition of anti-Semitism is too broad.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, proposed in March by Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) and passed by the Senate Education Committee last week, claims anti-Semitism has been growing throughout the world and on college campuses across the country.
“We want to put the state Legislature on the record (of opposing anti-Semitism),” said Chris Wysocki, chief of staff for Stone.
Wysocki cited February’s controversy over the appointment of Rachel Beyda, a second-year economics student, to the Undergraduate Students Association Council Judicial Board. At a USAC meeting, several USAC members questioned how Beyda would remain neutral given her affiliation with the Jewish community on campus.
The incident, which many have called anti-Semitic and sparked national headlines, led to USAC passing a resolution condemning anti-Semitism.
“Beyda was part of it, but it was kind of a broad pattern we started to see,” Wysocki said.
Some pro-Palestine groups, as well as civil rights groups, have also opposed the resolution and sent a letter to Stone.
James Lafferty, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, said he thinks the resolution’s use of the U.S. Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism groups criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
“Lumping criticisms of Israel with those who carry swastikas takes away the credibility of Israeli people when they are actually faced with anti-Semitic situations,” Lafferty said.
Wysocki said the resolution used what they think is the most widely accepted definition of anti-Semitism. The Department of State defines demonizing, delegitimizing or applying a double standard to Israel as anti-Semitic.
The bill was amended this week to address some of the concerns, including a clause saying the resolution does not intend to diminish anyone’s right to free speech.
Sydney Levy, director of advocacy for the Jewish Voice for Peace, said he thinks the resolution singles out anti-Semitism as a problem on campuses even as students face other problems such as Islamophobia and racism. The organization supports efforts to end what it says is the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
“We are living in a moment when Muslim students are being killed,” Levy said, referring to shooting of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, N.C. “But one item a legislator is concerned about is anti-Semitism.”
The UC has not taken a stance on the resolution, said University spokeswoman Shelly Meron in an email statement.
However, she referred to a statement from UC President Janet Napolitano and UC Board of Regents Chairman Bruce D. Varner in which they condemned recent controversial incidents, such as USAC’s questioning of Beyda and the swastikas painted on the UC Davis’ Jewish fraternity house.
UCLA doesn’t have a specific policy addressing anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, said university spokesman Ricardo Vazquez, referring to the UCLA Principles of Community. Chancellor Gene Block released a statement late February condemning the questioning of Beyda’s appointment as well as offensive fliers targeting Students for Justice in Palestine.
The resolution has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Some pro-Palestine groups, as well as civil rights groups, have also opposed the resolution and sent a letter to Stone.”
So it’s not hate to not allow someone whom is Jewish to be part of a student body government and to discriminate against them. Yea, “thanks” for clearing that up on what hate really is you hypocrites…
I’m glad to see the people aren’t going to bow down to the Jews anymore.
So they want to pass bills condemning anti-semitism (criticism of Israeli Apartheid). But not the racism faced against students of color on a regular basis on this campus and across the state? And by the way, Black people are still waiting for this country to condemn slavery and Jim Crow. Guess we aren’t “White enough.”
Based on your statement that “WE aren’t white enough”, I assume you’re a Student-of-Color. Please forgive me if I’ve got that wrong.
But if you are a Student-of-Color, I have to say that your comment is one of the stupidest, most uneducated comments I’ve ever read on this board.
Here are few facts you should know:
Legally, there is no stronger condemnation than making something “illegal” under Federal Law. Making something illegal under federal law exceeds condemnation because it not only declares such behavior as “criminal” across the country, it also attaches severe punishments for such behavior.
Regarding laws that protect Student-of-Color, there are MANY anti-discrimination laws in the country and there are several that specifically target racial discrimination. Perhaps the most notable is the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968. Have you ever heard of a guy named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Do you know anything about what laws he influenced?
And just so you know, it IS illegal to discriminate against a Student-of-Color based on race on the UCLA campus – and every other campus in this country.
Here is a link to a few of the laws involving racial discrimination in this country. It is interesting to note that the USA has more racial discrimination laws than most other countries on earth. Read about them. Learn something:
http://civilrights.findlaw.com/discrimination/race-discrimination-applicable-laws.html
Regarding condemning slavery, again, the USA has gone beyond mere condemnation of slavery. The 13th Amendment of the US Constitution makes slavery illegal.
Regarding the Jim Crow Laws, after WW2 there were several laws that ended segregation. Perhaps the strongest was – again – the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, privately owned restaurants, hotels, and stores, and in private schools and workplaces.
Regarding your obvious animosity towards Jews, on June 21, 1964, civil rights workers Michael Schwerner (Jewish Student), Andrew Goodman (Jewish Student), and James Chaney (Student of Color) disappeared in Mississippi. This is the famous “Mississippi Burning” incident that captured the countries attention and helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
If there was one ethnic group that worked side-by-side with African American’s to help achieve the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it was the Jews. To this day, some of the most prominent and famous civil rights activists are Jews. Stanley Levison (A Jew) was an adviser and speech writer for Martin Luther King Jr. Billie Holiday’s anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit”, recorded in 1937 was written Abel Meeropol (A Jew). Felix Frankfurter (A Jew) was a Supreme Court Justice who helped found the ACLU. Joel and Arthur Spingarn (Jews) were early leaders in the NAACP.
Jews have been strong and natural allies for African Americans in their mutual fight against racist organizations like the KKK and other White Supremacist groups.
You would think that the Jews have enough enemies. But if there is one thing that makes me absolutely nuts, it is listening to the rantings of some foolish, antisemitic Student of Color who is too ignorant to even know that the Jews are on his side!
Freedom of speech is about being able to express ideas others might not like but also to dispute those who express ideas you don’t like. When you suppress people who disagree with you, they only become more radicalized. This kind of resolution wouldn’t solve anything but simply pave over an ongoing debate.
Look, clearly there is a problem with the UC system, at a fundamental level, if someone who does nothing more than claim her rightful inheritance is subjected to this kind of vitriolic hatred.
““We want to put the state Legislature on the record (of opposing anti-Semitism),” said Chris Wysocki, chief of staff for Stone.”
ABSOLUTELY.
There are some hatreds that simply cannot be tolerated or given free voicing.
Shame on the UC system.