Rep. McCaul Joins Letters Urging Top U.S. Universities to Condemn and Stop Antisemitic Behavior on Campuses in Wake of Attacks on Israel
WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — sent letters to the administrations at several U.S. universities concerning the rise in antisemitic and pro-Hamas behavior on their campuses. The letters, led by Representative Ralph Norman (R-S.C), express profound disappointment in administrators for their half-hearted, hypocritical, or absent responses to the outrageous actions by student organizers and certain professors.
In their letters, the members wrote, “The shocking lack of a prompt and unequivocal condemnation from [your university] on this barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas raises serious concerns about the institution's moral compass and its commitment to standing against terrorism and violence. … The world is watching, and the credibility and integrity of your institution are at stake. It is not just a matter of issuing a statement; it is about taking a stand against hatred and terrorism and demonstrating that [your university] is a leader in academia and will unequivocally and without reservation denounce the voices and actions of evil.”
Background:
Following the October 7th attacks on Israel — in which Hamas terrorists indiscriminately fired thousands of rockets into civilian areas, brutally slaughtered women and children, and kidnapped hundreds of individuals — dangerous antisemitic statements and behaviors have been on the rise on our nation’s college campuses. University organizations and individuals at several of these institutions have either gone public with pro-Hamas statements or have been slow to condemn such evil.
At Columbia University, there was a recent assault against an Israel student, pro-Palestine protests on campus, and a tenured professor described the Hamas attack as "awesome stunning victory."
Click here to read the members’ letter to Columbia.
At Harvard University, student organizations publicly blamed Israel for Hamas' gruesome attacks.
Click here to read the members’ letter to Harvard.
At Cornell University, a professor described the Hamas attacks as "energizing" and "exhilarating."
Click here to read the members’ letter to Cornell.
The University of Pennsylvania hosted multiple openly antisemitic speakers on campus.
Click here to read the members’ letter to UPenn.
At Yale University, a professor justified Hamas killing Israelis and described Israel as "a murderous, genocidal state."
Click here to read the members’ letter to Yale.
Co-signing the letters are Reps. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Bob Good (R-Va.), Mike Collins (R-Ga.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Mike Carey (R-Ohio), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Burgess Owens (R-Utah), and Michael Guest (R-Miss.).
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