TAKING A STAND
August
2017
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As the end of the summer approaches, we reflect on the various accomplishments achieved in the fight against the BDS movement, and against anti-Semitism worldwide. From France, to South Africa, to the U.S., progress is being made. This month's Brandeis Brief details the various challenges faced by the Jewish community, as well as the positive steps taken to overcome such setbacks. While much work remains to done, particularly on college campuses and on the international front, we remain hopeful that with growing support we will continue to progress in the right direction. Once again, we thank you for your tax-deductible
donations
and acknowledge that without you our work could not be done.
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Governor Roy Cooper Signs North Carolina Anti-BDS Law
Ali Rosenblatt, Brandeis Blog
North Carolina just became the 22nd state to enact legislation to counteract the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions ("BDS") movement against Israel. Governor Roy Cooper signed into law this anti-BDS bill that calls for divestment from, and bars state agencies from contracting with, companies who have chosen to boycott Israel.
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No Safe Space for Jews on Campus
While many in the media portray anti-Semitism as a phenomenon of the right, it is among young liberals on college campuses that it is growing the most. For some liberals, it is that opposition to Israel, which often edges into anti-Semitism, can be a way to demonstrate solidarity with Muslims. For others, it is rooted in the ancient hatred of Jews. Whatever its origins, anti-Semitism has no place on our college campuses.
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Pro-Israel Groups Claim Criminal Action Took Place at UC-Irvine Protest, Call on School to Hold Perpetrators 'Accountable'
Rachel Frommer, Algemeiner
The Louis D. Brandeis Center, Students Supporting Israel, and StandWithUs sent a letter to University of California - Irvine (UCI) administrators urging them to hold students accountable for violating both UCI policies and state law.
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In a tweet by Jamal Dakwar, the director of the ACL
U's
Human Rights Program, he stated,
"Israeli leaders exploit
horrible
acts of anti-Semitism to encourage
Jews to move to Israel." This tweet comes at a time when the ACLU, "has been leading the battle against the Antisemitism Awareness Act," as Kenneth Marcus,
President
and General Counsel of the Louis D. B
randeis Center for Human Rights Under the Law,
highlighted.
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Ali Rosenblatt, Brandeis Blog
Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, just made official a new definition of anti-Semitism that the Ryerson Student Union (RSU) voted to
pass in a motion in March. The new definition was based on the Ottawa Protocol, which reaffirms both the EUMC International Working Definition of Anti-Semitism and the definition of the U.S. State Department in accounting for anti-Semitism that hides behind the guise of anti-Zionism, among other forms newer anti-Semitism may take.
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Leaders Take a Stand Against Anti-Zionism
Michaela Shapiro, Brandeis Blog
French President Emanuel Macron made an unprecedented
statement when he asserted
that
"anti-Zionism is a reinvented form of
anti-Semitism," while speaking about growing religious tensions in the
country. Senate Minority Leader Charles "Chuck" Schumer of New York applauded President Macron's statement and echoed the sentiment in a speech before the Senate the following day.
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Victory in South Africa: Anti-Israel Activist Guilty of Hate Speech
Michaela Shapiro, Brandeis Blog
In a landmark ruling, the Equality Court sitting in the South Gauteng High Court of South Africa found Bongani Masuku guilty of hate speech following his comments calling for Jewish lives to be made "hell," among other remarks. Over twenty-five years since apartheid
came
to an end, South Africa fights on to eradicate
discrimination,
and their recent ruling will
have widespread implications for the global fight against anti-Semitism.
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Key U.S. Special Envoy Position is Still Vacant
Ali Rosenblatt, Brandeis Blog
The State Department's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism has remained vacant since July 1st.
Former
Special Envoy, Ira Forman, knows how essentia
l this role is; t
he position was established to create policies and support projects to combat global anti-Semitism. This vacancy conflicts with efforts from the legislative branch, given
that Senators presented a bill in June to enhance the role of the Special Envoy.
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Support LDB
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The Louis D. Brandeis Center is a nonprofit organization supported by individuals, groups and foundations that share our concern about Jewish college students. Contributions are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To support our efforts to combat campus anti-Semitism, please contact us at info@brandeiscenter.com.
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Kenneth L. Marcus
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Can We Help You? |
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The Louis D. Brandeis Center stands ready if we can help you to combat anti-Semitism in higher education.
Please contact us if you are a student or professor who needs our help. We are also available to provide technical assistance to university administrators who are interested in achieving legal compliance and best practices for eliminating campus anti-Semitism.
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