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University of California Unanimously Passes Landmark Policy to Protect Jewish Students
First University to take this critical step
At the UC Board of Regents meeting today, the University of California passed a resolution which condemned “anti-Semitism, anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism and other forms of discrimination” and stated “they have no place at the University of California.”
Anti-Zionism has now been linked to anti-Semitism and condemned by the most prestigious and largest public university in the United States. This is an unprecedented and remarkable step forward, which will benefit Jewish students across the country!
AMCHA began communicating with UC Regents and community members a year ago after hearing from concerned parents and students about the rapid rise of anti-Semitism at UC. In September the Regents appointed a task force to address the problem. The task force held numerous public meetings and hearings to hear from the community and experts. Last week they released the proposed Statement of Principles Against Intolerance that was approved unanimously yesterday by the Regents Committee on Educational Policy and today by the full board.
At yesterday’s meeting, dozens of UC students and faculty, representatives from Jewish organizations, including, the Anti-Defamation League, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Jewish Community Relations Council, and AMCHA Initiative, and State Assemblymember Travis Allen testified before the Regents urging them to support the measure. In addition, over the last week, more than 4,000 UC students, faculty, parents, alumni and stakeholders; 60 Jewish and education advocacy groups, including Hillel International, Jewish Federations of North America, and the American Jewish Committee; as well as the California Legislature’s Jewish Caucus and U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman urged the Regents to condemn anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the Statement.
The vote, with the inclusion of the condemnation of antisemitic forms of anti-Zionism, represents a new direction in administration addression of modern antisemitism. We are incredibly proud of this achievement. It was a challenging journey to arrive at this point, one that required the persistence of AMCHA, our extraordinary at-will coalition partners, students, activists, alumni and supporters.
Your actions throughout the year has contributed greatly to this success, and we are deeply appreciative of all that you have done and your support of AMCHA Initiative!
ARTICLES ABOUT THIS SUCCESS
Associated Press – 3/25/2016 – UC’s anti-Semitism statement up for final review
Newsweek – 3/23/2016 – University of California’s ‘Principles Against Intolerance’ Say Opposition to Israel Can be Anti-Semitic
Inside Higher Ed – 3/24/2016 – Anti-Semitism vs. Anti-Zionism
JTA – 3/23/16 – University of California condemns anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism
Jewish Press – 3/24/2016 – UC Condemns Anti-Semitism and Anti-Semitic Anti-Zionism
Haaretz – 3/24/2016 – University of California Votes to Label anti-Semitism as Form of Intolerance
Associated Press – 3/23/2016 – University of California approves anti-Semitism statement
San Francisco Chronicle – 3/23/2016 – UC regents’ committee OKs ‘anti-Zionism’ as discrimination
San Jose Mercury News – 3/23/2016 – UC approves language condemning ‘anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism’
JNS – 3/23/2016 – U. of Calif. set to adopt amended denunciation of anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism
San Diego Jewish World – 3/23/2016 – UC Regents approve new guidelines on anti- Semitism
…and many more!
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Warm regards,
AMCHA Initiative
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