The U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled plans for its Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism to visit ten universities that have recently been the sites of antisemitic incidents.
This initiative follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Gaza, which has sparked a wave of anti-Israeli and antisemitic protests across various campuses.
The task force's creation stems from an executive order by former President Donald Trump, aimed at addressing antisemitism within educational institutions. The spring of 2024 saw several universities embroiled in protests, some escalating into violence. Columbia University, in particular, became a focal point after a violent demonstration resulted in arrests and the discovery of pro-Jihadi materials by the New York Police Department within the protest encampment.
This incident, among others, has compelled universities to take a firmer stance against antisemitic rhetoric, including statements from faculty and staff that are critical of Israel.
According to Just The News, one of Trump's enduring priorities has been to combat antisemitism, especially on college campuses. Leo Terrell, a senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights and a leading member of the task force, recently informed ten universities of the task force's awareness of allegations that these institutions may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from discrimination, potentially violating federal law.
The universities in question include Columbia, George Washington, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, New York University, Northwestern, UCLA, Cal Berkeley, Minnesota, and Southern Cal.
The Justice Department has stated that Terrell "intends" for the task force to engage with university leadership, students, staff, law enforcement, and community members to gather information about the incidents.
Terrell emphasized the administration's commitment to ensuring campus safety for all religious groups, stating, "The President, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and the entire administration are committed to ensuring that no one should feel unsafe or unwelcome on campus because of their religion." He further noted that the task force's mission is to leverage federal resources to eliminate antisemitism, particularly in educational settings.
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