U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia joined Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Tim Scott of South Carolina in introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act.
The bill addresses antisemitic sentiment and actions on college campuses.
In the year following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack launched by Hamas on Israel, the Anti-Defamation League reported 1,400 antisemitic incidents on campuses across the nation, all-time high, with 73 percent of Jewish students reporting they had witnessed or experienced some form of antisemitism.
“In the wake of the horrific October 7th terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas, we have seen growing rates religious discrimination across the country. This legislation aims to address the alarming rise of antisemitism on college campuses, and help investigate these reprehensible acts.” Warner said.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the Department of Education to take into consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The IHRA definition has been used to clarify and identify the various manifestations of antisemitism. Since 2018, the Department of Education has used the IHRA definition when investigating Title VI violations.
The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights enforces Title VI, which protects all students who receive federal financial assistance in K through 12 public schools, colleges, universities and community colleges from discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities.
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Rebecca Barnabi
