CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and 18 of her Senate Republican colleagues recently introduced a resolution condemning the explosion of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses, calling out university presidents who have enabled and refused to take action against this antisemitism. The resolution also urges the U.S. Department of Education to take necessary actions to ensure that colleges and universities are complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students. This effort was led by U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.).
“Antisemitism anywhere, especially on college campuses, is absolutely unacceptable. Jewish students should not fear for their safety at school and the antisemitic hate displayed on these campuses cannot continue,” Senator Capito said. “I stand by our Jewish friends and will keep working to make sure that antisemitic rioters, and the institutions that allow hate to fester, are held accountable.”
BACKGROUND:
Below is a list of recent efforts made by Senator Capito to combat antisemitism:
- May 1, 2024: Senator Capito, vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, spoke about antisemitism on college campuses at a recent Senate Republican leadership press conference.
- April 30, 2024: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), pressed U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on the disturbing rise of antisemitism on college campuses and asked how the Biden administration plans to address it during a Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
- Week of April 29: Senator Capito joined the Countering Anti-Semitism Act, led by U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), which would require the Department of Education to designate a senior official to advise the Secretary on the Department’s efforts to counter antisemitic discrimination in higher education, among other things.
- April 23, 2024: Senator Capito joined 26 of her Republican colleagues in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary Cardona that urged them to restore order to campuses that have been effectively shut down by antisemitic mobs that are targeting Jewish students.
- January 31, 2024: Senator Capito led a group of your Republican colleagues in a series of Senate floor speeches focused on the rise of antisemitism.
- December 12, 2023: Senator Capito spoke at the weekly Senate Republican Leadership Press Conference about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses across the U.S. and the need to protect students.
- November 30, 2023: Senator Capito sent a letter to Secretary Cardona urging the Biden administration to address antisemitism toward Jewish children in K-12 schools amid rising rates in the aftermath of Hamas’ attacks against Israel.
- October 30, 2023: Senator Capito co-sponsored the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which provides the Department of Education a proper definition of contemporary antisemitism, including anti-Zionism, to combat and prevent anti-Jewish bigotry on college campuses.
- October 26, 2023: Senator Capito sent a letter to Secretary Cardona urging the Biden administration to protect Jewish college students amid rising antisemitic incidents and attacks on college campuses.
