Over objections over academic freedom and free speech, the California State Assembly passed a controversial resolution (HR 35) that calls on universities to crackdown on criticism of Israel. Passed by a voice vote, the resolution includes language that equates criticism of Israeli policies and actions as “anti-Semitism.” While the resolutions original purpose is laudatory and does include clear expression of anti-Semitism, its drafters decided to include criticism of Israel and its human rights record in a measure that at a minimum chills free speech by professor and students alike. Drafted by Republican Linda Halderman, there was no hearing or debate allowed on the resolution. Just a voice vote.
It should be kept in mind that this is a non-binding resolution and, as such, has little coercive impact on universities. However, as public institutions, these schools are likely to take such a resolution as a guideline for the future to avoid the animus and possible retaliatory measures from the legislature. It describes anti-Semitism that should “not be tolerated in the classroom or on campus, and that no public resources be allowed to be used for anti-Semitic or intolerant agitation.”
The key “whereas” provisions lists the acts are deemed evidence of the need for greater action from universities in combatting anti-Semitism:
WHEREAS, Over the last decade some Jewish students on public
postsecondary education institution campuses in California have
experienced the following: (1) physical aggression, harassment, and
intimidation by members of student or community groups in
student-sponsored protests and rallies held on campus; (2) speakers,
films, and exhibits sponsored by student, faculty, and community
groups that engage in anti-Semitic discourse or use anti-Semitic
imagery and language to falsely describe Israel, Zionists, and Jews,
including that Israel is a racist, apartheid, or Nazi state, that
Israel is guilty of heinous crimes against humanity such as ethnic
cleansing and genocide, that the Jewish state should be destroyed,
that violence against Jews is justified, that Jews exaggerate the
Holocaust as a tool of Zionist propaganda, and that Jews in America
wield excessive power over American foreign policy; (3) swastikas and
other anti-Semitic graffiti in residential halls, public areas on
campus, and Hillel houses; (4) student- and faculty-sponsored
boycott, divestment, and sanction campaigns against Israel that are a
means of demonizing Israel and seek to harm the Jewish state; (5)
actions of student groups that encourage support for terrorist
organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah and openly advocate
terrorism against Israel and the Jewish people; and (6) suppression
and disruption of free speech that present Israel’s point of view;
and
Such anti-Semitism includes speech accusing Israel of “crimes against humanity”; “language or behavior [that] demonizes and delegitimizes Israel”; claims that Israel engages in forms of “ethnic cleansing”; statements portraying Israel as a “racist” or “apartheid” state; statements “applying double standards by requiring of Israel a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation;” “actions of student groups that encourage support for terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah”; and “Student and faculty-sponsored boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns against Israel.” These are some of the cited examples that are then the basis for the resolution to encourage universities to take further steps to protect Jewish students from such speech.
This makes criticism of Israel the same as a hatred for the Jewish people and human rights activists (and various United Nations figures) bigots.
College campuses are places where such issues of human rights and politics have long been debated under the protection of academic freedom and free speech. The legislature’s intrusion into this protected space is both unwelcomed and unwarranted. These schools already have robust discrimination and hate speech protections.
If these are examples of anti-Semitic or hate speech, then United Nations officials like Judge Richard Goldstone and Jimmy Carter (as well as groups like Amnesty International) would be barred from campuses as anti-Semitic bigots.
This is not to say that these groups or these individuals are correct in their views. Rather they are not criticizing Israel out of anti-Semitism but good-faith view on human rights and civil liberties — just as their critics hold good-faith opposing views. Notably, proponents for Israel do not win this debate by demonizing critics or seeking to silence such speech. The resolution is particularly troubling in California, which is the home of so many leading academic institutions with a long history of political protests and discourse on campus.
What is most striking is that objections were made publicly to this language before passage with even some sponsors expressing concerns. It would have been an easy thing to edit that graph to eliminate areas of legitimate public policy differences and debate but the language was kept in the resolution.
Here is the resolution:.
Source: ABC
Malisha, Please sharpen your English comprehension skills and then try to read my whole post. You may respond after that.:-)
PS: Are you a layman or a laywoman?
I assume it also prohibits criticism of Iranian, Venezuelan and other countries government. Many of you are missing the point as you’re not giving any consideration to why an all inclusive non-binding resolution is necessary. There have been numerous incidents on various CA campuses in which outright hate crimes have been committed against Islamic students. A plethora of Israeli government officials have openly called for warfare against Palestinians and Iran and the killing of Muslims and nothing has been done by the so-called “liberal” academics.
Malisha, The layman is the prostitutes’ pimp? Which came first, the prostitute or her/his pimp?
ay,
that is an amazing link. What in god’s name would the NYPD be spending tax payer money to have an office in Israel? Do they have one in Dublin? Toronto? Kabul?
NYPD In Israel: Police Department Opens Branch In Kfar Saba With Lone Detective Charlie Ben-Naim
Posted: 09/06/2012 10:21 am Updated: 09/06/2012 10:23 am
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/nypd-opens-branch-israel-veteran-charlie-ben-naim_n_1860733.html
Teji, you say “The Assembly woman is an idiot. I assume she is Jewish.”
Interesting. Not per se anti-Semitic (cut the crap about the derivation of the word “semitic”; everybody understands what anti-Semitic means) but nevertheless interesting. And what, pray, is the derivation of the word “idiot”? It comes from the Greek word meaning “layman.” So perhaps some study of history will inform people how not to use THAT word wrong.
Layman is the oldest profession.
Mahmoud, any link to these so called “hate crimes” against California Jewish students? If they’re real and a crime, then they’re already illegal and criminally punishable. I suspect, however, your definition of “hate crime” is more like “hate speech” instead of a true “hate crime.”
Ultimately, principles depend upon popular support for their long-term survival. I sometimes fear for the first amendment and feel that supporters need to do a better job not just at asserting the right in court, but at persuading the general population that it is a good and wise principle worthy of support.
Dredd,
you are correct that this is a resolution and it is not law. Prof. Turley’s article confirms that fact. I agree that it is a stupid resolution, but I do not agree that it will stop or impair people on California campuses from speaking their mind concerning Israel.
Why do you need another set of laws on the book period….. Just enforce the ones already there….. Seems my fingernail broke…..I need to set up an appointment to get a new one….. Seems obviously to me that it will grow back….. Too many folks are over reactionary……
Many of you are missing the point as you’re not giving any consideration to why this non-binding resolution was even necessary. There have been numerous incidents on various CA campuses in which outright hate crimes have been committed against Jewish students. A plethora of terrorist-supporting groups have openly called for the killing of Israelis and nothing has been done by the so-called “liberal” academics.
The Assembly woman is an idiot. I assume she is Jewish. It is sad to see that she does not know her own history. She does not know that both Arabs and Jews are Semites. It is important for her to learn her own history. No, I am not an Arab.
This resolution shows that some ethnic groups hate others expressing their views no matter how offensive they may be.
Can this be also called antisemitic?:-)
Dredd,
Since when do resolution of a chamber need a governor’s signature? I was unaware a resolution had the force of law….. I stand to be corrected….. But this is California after all…..
Dredd, Thanks for the info. That doesn’t sound like something that Gov. Brown would sign.
Damn….. And just when you think the Israel war with Iran was heating up……
It is not binding, the 80 member Assembly is the lower house, the resolution did not pass the upper house, and was not signed by the governor.
It is a lot like all the bills passed by the neoCon climate deniers in the U.S. House only to turn into brown paper in the Senate without action.
Like “zionism = racism” this is just idiotic, AND wrong AND really REALLY bad precedent. Shame on everyone involved!
PC knows no political party, sex or nationality. As I’ve said, it’s pernicious and requires constant vigilance to combat. She should have banned any phrases about pandering, stupid, myopic, women.
Those republicans, they sure do love academic freedom.
This is just disturbing. It is wrong. People in Israel’s peace movement would be banned from speaking at any CA college. What’s up with pretend voice votes?
I have never seen the people of this nation more willing to undermine our own Constitution, our highest values. It is both scary and sad.