Pro-Palestinian thuggery on campus finally gets a rebuke. My latest in FrontPage:
President Trump made history again on Wednesday, when he signed an executive order authorizing the Department of Education to act against anti-Semitism on American college and university campuses, and making it clear that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal money, “would apply to institutions that traffic in anti-Semitic hate,” that is, virtually every public institution of higher learning in America.
This executive order is long overdue. The Jerusalem Post reported that as far back as 2015, “more than 30 organizations, including Jewish fraternity AEPI, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Zionist Organization of America wrote to University of California regent Bruce D. Varner in July, requesting that substantive measures be taken to combat rising anti-Semitism on UC-affiliated campuses.”
The problem wasn’t restricted to the University of California, either, but nothing was done. And it is virtually inconceivable that Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or any presidential hopeful on the scene today would have signed the executive order that Trump signed Wednesday. Trump pointed out that earlier efforts to combat campus anti-Semitism “didn’t get it done,” and declared: “This year, there’s no roadblock.”
There have been roadblocks for years. Campus groups, most notably the notorious Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), have grown increasingly aggressive as the Left has intensified its embrace of opposition to Israel and open anti-Semitism. Jewish students and supporters of Israel on campuses have been shouted down, defamed, vilified, and physically menaced, with only a handful of groups, particularly the David Horowitz Freedom Center, providing any support for those students.
The Freedom Center has fought back, virtually alone, demanding that universities withdraw their support for pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic groups such as the SJP that spread Jew-hatred on campus for well over a decade. The Center provides students who support Israel with valuable intellectual resources and helping them to stand strong against the furious onslaught from Leftists and the Muslim Brotherhood juggernaut.
There are so many incidents illustrating that furious onslaught that they could fill an entire good-sized book. Nor have only students been targeted: in February 2010 at the University of California at Irvine (UCI), the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, attempted to give a speech there on relations between the United States and Israel but was ultimately unable to do so: after Muslim students heckled and interrupted him repeatedly, he left the stage.
Before Oren appeared, the UCI Muslim Student Union (MSU) chapter had issued a statement that read, in part:
As people of conscience, we oppose Michael Oren’s invitation to our campus. Propagating murder is not a responsible expression of free speech. . . .
We strongly condemn the university for cosponsoring, and therefore, inadvertently supporting the ambassador of a state that is condemned by more UN Human Rights Council resolutions than all other countries in the world combined. . . .
The most important aspect of this statement was its claim that the university was “inadvertently supporting” Oren’s views just by cosponsoring the event. This was a complete rejection of the idea of the university as a place where all ideas can be discussed and accepted or rejected on their own merits. As far as the Muslim Student Union was concerned, giving someone a platform was tantamount to endorsing his views—so only those with acceptable opinions, that is, anti-Israel opinions, should be given a platform.
Applying that principle has turned universities into one-party states in which only one point of view is allowed. Trump’s executive order opens up the possibility that they might become institutions of higher learning again.
It will take a great deal of effort. At Temple University in August 2014, SJP members called Daniel Vessal, a Camera on Campus fellow and a member of the Jewish fraternity AEPi, “kike” and “baby killer,” and punched him in the face. Vessal explained that when he tried to engage SJP members in dialogue, but “people at the table were calling me a ‘baby killer’…And then this kid just rocks me in the face as hard as he can. My glasses flew off. After a two-second blur I had no clue what had happened. I couldn’t believe the kid actually hit me. When the police came over and were filing the report the kids at the table were screaming ‘You Zionist pig, you racist, that’s what you get.’” Police did not arrest the attacker.
In May 2016, Eliana Kopley, a sophomore at the University of California at Irvine (UCI), was trying to enter a screening of an Israeli documentary about the IDF called “Beneath the Helmet” when she was accosted by an angry mob screaming “Long live the Intifada!” and “F**k Israel!” The protesters prevented her from entering the building where the film was being shown, and even chased her into a nearby building, where they pounded on the doors and windows while continuing to scream their slogans. Police ultimately escorted Kopley into the screening. The UCI chapter of the SJP was thrilled with this thuggery, and praised the mob.
Likewise in a November 2015 rally organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Hunter College, a campus of the City University of New York (CUNY), protesters brandishing signs reading “Boycott Israel” and “Zionists out of CUNY” screamed at Jewish students: “Zionists go home!,” “Zionists out of CUNY!,” “Jews out of CUNY!,” “Get out of America!,” and “We should drag the Zionist down the street!” In February 2016 at Brooklyn College, a group of hard-Left students burst into a Faculty Council meeting and began chanting “Zionists off campus!” When a Jewish professor tried to get students to end their disruption of a Faculty Council meeting at Brooklyn College, they called him a “Zionist pig.”
The Muslim students’ behavior toward Oren and at Hunter College rapidly became the norm across U.S. campuses: it has become unsafe to be pro-Israel at an American university. As colleges grow more authoritarian in their Leftism, they have become increasingly inhospitable to students who oppose the Left’s pet causes.
But now President Trump has ensured that universities and colleges that actively allow anti-Semitic activity will face consequences. At the signing of the executive order, Alan Dershowitz said: “No more important event to turn universities away from being bastions of hatred and discrimination than this executive order being signed today. It is a game changer. It will go down in history as one of the most important events in 2,000 battle against anti-Semitism.”
For the sake of simple justice, and for the sake of the freedom of inquiry on college and university campuses, and for the sake of the truths that the Freedom Center has been fighting for all these years, all people of good will should hope that Dershowitz will be proven correct.
Richard says
love this man and his love for our country; more than one could ever say about obamahole and I’d favor retroactive impeachment for that marxist sob
Ray Jarman says
This is one of the most important acts that President Trump has taken. It is on par with the movement of the U.S. Embassy from Tele Aviv to Jerusalem and acknowledging Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights and since it involves a lot of money. I think that some university administrations may take a different stance on the First Amendment to our Constitution, especially the freedom of assembly and speech. The left may also find this as a transgression that warrants impeachment.
John Lloyd Scharf says
I agree with your reasoned response and those after this one. I wish I could have checked off all those others with a thumbs-up. This aggression in public institutions against Jews and Israel cannot stand up to reason or justice.
Negative adjectives, profanity, and vulgarity to refer to a Muhammadan are dispensable, inessential, nonessential, redundant,and unnecessarily superfluous tautology to the term Muhammadan. Islam is a politically correct term for Muslim, which is a politically correct term for Muhammadan. Muhammad is their model for behavior. Muhammad betrayed, enslaved, robbed, raped, tortured, blackmailed and murdered unarmed men, women, and children.
Murdering Muhammadans is not necessary or desirable. Separate. Isolate. Quarantine. #Muhammadans self-destruct looking for minor differences called apostasy.#Muhammadans self-destruct looking for minor differences called apostasy. With their unleashed dogma unmuzzled by tolerance, they will self-destruct.
Battle says
The Palestinian are baby killers. The Palestinian are racists.
gravenimage says
Trump Pushes Back Against Campus Anti-Semitism
…………….
Excellent news.
Wellington says
And yet President Trump is still accused of anti-Semitism by left-wing Jewish groups (e.g., Halie Soifer, executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, who just this month {December 2019} said, and I quote, “Trump is the biggest threat to America Jews”). Oh yeah, the American who had the power to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem—and did so— is a mortal threat to Jews in America. Can’t make this up.
You see, when you live in Leftworld, as Soifer most obviously does, facts are optional and agreeing with the Left-wing agenda is paramount. Dispute the Left-wing agenda on ANYTHING and you will be described as some kind of hater.
Conclusion: Modern Western Leftism has totalitarianism, stupidity and control-freak behavior written all over it. Rather as Islam does. No wonder the two are allies (for the time being that is).
Time for a beer, or maybe three, because there is just so much nonsense one can tolerate from Leftism and Islam before alcohol becomes something close to a necessity—and preferably accompanied by a fine BLT or North Carolina barbecued ribs. But I digress.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
Excellent post, my compliments.
Pres. Trump keeps on winning – even with the coefficient of drag of a sham impeachment process.
You’ve got my mouth watering for a pork loin roast with some mint jelly – and an ice cold IPA…
Wellington says
Thank you, James and “go for the gusto,” i.e., a pork product and a beer.
Infidel says
So when they accuse him of anti-Semitism, are they accusing him of being against the religion (that his daughter has embraced and married into) or the Hebrew nation? If it’s the former, then Bernie – a nominal Jew – has been endorsed by at least one of the Jihadists in the squad – Ilhan, which wouldn’t happen if they thought that he was being true to his Jewish heritage. If it’s the latter, then he is doing a crappy job of being an anti-Semite – strengthening the legitimacy of the nation established for the Jewish people by first recognizing Jerusalem as their capital, and then Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and ownership of settlements in Judea and Samaria
Being a fact free zone is one thing, but the thing I find most infuriating about the Left is them being a logic free zone!
Dapto says
AS you are probably aware any group with Democratic in there name are usually a Nazis type group that are anything not remotely close to democratic.
Infidel says
Communist. East Germany was the German Democratic Republic, North Korea is Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and South Yemen was People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. All were/are Communist countries.
As are today’s Democrats
PRCS says
CAIR ain’t happy about this:
https://www.cair.com/cair_pledges_to_counter_trump_s_unconstitutional_attempt_to_silence_campus_criticism_of_israeli_human_rights_abuses
CAIR Pledges to Counter Trump’s Unconstitutional Attempt to Silence Campus Criticism of Israeli Human Rights Abuses
James Lincoln says
PRCS,
Whenever CAIR is unhappy, somebody is doing something right.
Always 100% true.
Wellington says
Seconded.
Norger says
Perhaps someone could pledge to counter the unconstitutional attempt (maybe better described as fait accompli) to silence criticism of Islamic human rights abuses on college campuses.
Mary says
You Americans are so very lucky to have Trump as your president. I really hope that he gets reelected. Wish our Prime minister was as smart.
Infidel says
Who’s your prime minister?
Thomas Richard says
Outstanding! Now let the next step……the halting of persecution of Christians in this great land be next…..
Don McKellar says
It is getting hard to keep track of how many great accomplishments Donald Trump has on his list. His first term still has another year and he’s already done more good for America and the world than anybody since Reagan. And he’s already probably surpassed Reagan if you add it up. He’s already in the top 10 presidents by any objective measure. Eight years of Trump — the 21st Century belongs to America and all the good it does in the world. It will be Washington, Lincoln, Trump. Top 3.
Terry says
Trump has an excellent VP and staff who work tirelessly in the background to help put these accomplishments across the goal line, time after time.
James Lincoln says
Don McKellar,
You are correct.
Actor Jon Voight made an excellent short video about this very topic.
He stated that Pres. Trump is the best president since Lincoln. When I first saw it, I thought it might be a little bit over the top. Maybe since Reagan – but Lincoln?
Now I believe that Mr. Voight was correct.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13E3OiTo1Yc
Grateful Guy says
Amen!!!
Charlie says
We need to get rid of CAIR period!
Mary says
Justin Trudeau
Infidel says
Oh. My condolences. Hopefully one day, you can elect the People’s Party ahead of your ‘Conservative Party’
wife says
I don’t give a cent to my alma mater, Hunter College. How low it has fallen. When I attended in the 1960s, admission was based on grades and was not “open.” There were many Jewish students and something like what happened recently would have been unthinkable. Glad Trump has acted.
Istvan Vogel says
We should fight “kuffarphobia” wherever we find it!
mortimer says
Yes, thanks for that Istvan. KAFIR-O-PHOBIA is nothing but AL WALAA WAL BARAA (W-B) in disguise. W-B is canonical APARTHEID doctrine of Islam. ‘Walaa’ means ‘comradeship with Muslims’ and ‘Baraa’ means hostility and enmity directed by Muslims against disbelievers … 80% of all humans.
We should point out the hypocrisy of Muslims calling for human rights that they do not reciprocally practice themselves.
The freedom of speech demanded by CAIR is ‘freedom for me, but not for thee’.
mortimer says
Leftarded college teachers are encouraging Jew hatred in the name of opposing the Jewish homeland in Israel. It is significant that the Palestinian nationality was created by the KGB to further communist goals. Russian Soviet communism seems to have become almost as anti-Semitic as Mussolini’s and Hitler’s versions of socialism.
Linde Barrera says
I stand with Israel. It is the only democratic country in the Middle East surrounded by countries whose civil doctrines for daily living are ruled by the doctrines of the Quran. And in my opinion, Islam is barbaric.
I am so proud of President Trump for his wisdom and courage, and I am praying that he gets re-elected.
John Lloyd Scharf says
NEVER EVER CITE MSNBC as a SOURCE: Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism LAW & JUSTICE Issued on: December 11, 2019
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-anti-semitism/
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