Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is under some serious pressure here, as he reportedly assured Jewish leaders he’d push the Antisemitism Awareness Act through the Senate before year’s end. And frankly, it’s about time.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, incidents of antisemitic harassment and even violence have erupted on college campuses across the country. And when “violence” is a recurring theme in student protests, well, that’s where things start to get a little worrying. This bill, designed to shield Jewish students from such discrimination, is an overdue step toward stopping a truly disturbing rise in hate on college campuses.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act already passed in the House back in May, with some bipartisan backing. But here’s the hitch: the Senate, even under Schumer’s leadership, has been dragging its feet on this one. Schumer’s plan? Attach the bill to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will be voted on after the November 5th election. Clever move, considering the NDAA is the bill that pretty much nobody wants to vote against—it sets the national defense budget, so it’s as close to a guaranteed passage as you’re likely to find in the Senate.
Why the delay? The bill’s definition of antisemitism has been a hot-button issue, even among Democrats. A specific point of contention is language labeling statements like “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” and “drawing comparisons between Israeli policies and the Nazis” as antisemitic.
Some Democrats argue this language is too broad or restrictive, while others claim it doesn’t go far enough in addressing the crisis. This friction has effectively stalled the bill, frustrating pro-Israel advocates who’ve been waiting for Schumer to make good on his word.
Scoop: Chuck Schumer recently promised Jewish leaders he will try to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act THIS YEAR.
The bill gives the DoE more tools to enforce anti-discrimination rules.
Schumer said he plans to attach it to the NDAA. W/ @HansNichols https://t.co/sYe3iFBe4V
— Stephen Neukam (@stephen_neukam) October 30, 2024
All the while, college campuses are facing unprecedented levels of antisemitic rhetoric and hate crimes. From students hurling slurs and tearing down posters of kidnapped civilians to full-blown “protests” that reportedly turned violent, it’s hard to deny that something needs to be done to protect Jewish students.
Arrests have already been made in several incidents where anti-Israel protests crossed the line into outright harassment. At this point, we’re not just talking about free speech—we’re looking at a hostile environment where students are legitimately worried about their safety, and administrators are scrambling (or, in some cases, seemingly refusing) to address it.
Schumer’s office has yet to comment publicly on his progress or plans for getting this bill through the Senate. But the stakes are high, and this legislation has become more than just a bill on paper. It’s a statement about where the line stands on hate speech, discrimination, and protecting students from harassment.
At the end of the day, if Schumer’s Antisemitism Awareness Act falters, it’s going to leave a lot of people wondering: how much longer are we going to tolerate this toxic environment on campus? And how many more students have to face harassment and fear before someone in Congress finally steps up to protect them?
