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SC Becomes 1st State to Pass Bill to Confront Campus Anti-Semitism

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Advocates Hoping This Momentous Step Will Launch National Wave

The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB) applauded the South Carolina General Assembly last week for being the first state to pass legislation that will help tackle the rising anti-Semitism plaguing U.S. college campuses.

The legislation, which was included as part of a larger state spending package, was approved last week in the Senate by a vote of 37-4, and the House of Representatives passed it by a vote of 116-2 in March. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has already endorsed the anti-Semitism measure, and has committed to sign it into law

“There has been an alarming increase in anti-Semitism nationwide, and particularly on our nation’s college campuses,” stated LDB’s Director of Legal Initiatives Aviva Vogelstein. “This bill gives South Carolina the tools to protect Jewish students’ and all South Carolina students’ right to a learning environment free of unlawful discrimination. Just as two dozen states followed South Carolina’s lead on legislation condemning the movement to boycott certain countries, we are hoping this momentous step will result in another national wave to, once and for all, begin defeating rising anti-Semitism.” LDB representatives testified at multiple South Carolina hearings on the bill and have been working closely with state legislators to ensure passage.

Joseph Sabag of the Israel Allies Foundation added, “This bill gives educators a uniform tool for ascertaining intent, similar to the use of confessions in criminal proceedings. It will ensure authorities consider the federal government’s definition of anti-Semitism in instances when it is necessary to determine the intent of constitutionally unprotected activities, including assault, battery, harassment, intimidation and vandalism. And it will protect against unlawful suppression of speech to ensure that all views can be fully expressed.”

South Carolina was the first state to pass legislation prohibiting state governments from contracting with entities that support the discriminating practice of boycotts on the basis of national origin. Since South Carolina passed its bill, H. 3583, 24 states have passed similar laws.

According to the FBI’s Hate Crime Report, Jewish hate crime victims, outnumber victims of all other religious groups combined. And the problem is most serious on college campuses. A Brandeis Center/Trinity College study found that 54% of Jewish students reported experiencing or witnessing anti-Semitism in 2014. A Brandeis University study found that by 2015, the number of Jewish students experiencing anti-Semitism spiked to nearly 75%. And, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest report, anti-Semitic incidents on U.S. college campuses increased 89% in 2017.

The South Carolina legislation will help break down the barriers in the fight against anti-Semitism by providing educators and administrators with a clear and uniform definition to recognize anti-Jewish bigotry. The definition included in the bill is the global “gold standard” used to define anti-Semitism, and is used by the U.S. federal government to assess incidents that occur abroad. It is substantially similar to the definition that has been supported by the 31 governments that are members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance; all 50 countries, except for Russia, that make up the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and the governments of the United Kingdom, Romania, Austria, Germany and Bulgaria. It has also been adopted by the United Kingdom to use in colleges and universities.

Edited by: JV Staff

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