Senator Rick Scott announced on October 7, 2023 that he reintroduced the prevention of anti-Semitist harassment in campus law, which led the former Grand Assembly with former Senator Marco Rubio, to address the rise in anti-Semitism incidents and rhetoric following the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. The law has feared Jewish students for safety as colleges and universities are responsible for dealing with the rise of anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination that violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, or because campus leaders in recent years risk losing federal funds as anti-Semitic mobs have taken over academic buildings.
The law builds on President Trump’s recent efforts to withhold federal funding from higher education institutions that have failed to halt anti-Semitic actions on campus, including today’s move to cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University.
Senator Rick Scott said, “After the Iran-backed attacks on Hamas on Israel, there has been a dramatic increase in anti-Semitic attacks in the United States, and seeing anti-Israel mobs taking over campus, the unacceptable failures from leadership of higher education institutions have denounced these mobs and took action to protect Jewish students. Jewish students feared going to class for fear of the violence threatened by these professional terrorist mobs. That won’t happen. President Rick Scott refuses to enforce the laws on campus and withhold federal funds from higher education institutions that allow anti-Semitic hatred to flourish, and I am proud to build this bill on his efforts.”
Prevention of preventive harassment on campus is as follows:
Expand Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This prohibits discrimination under programs or activities that are federally supported, with the exception of programs or activities related to religious organizations, as a practice that prohibits religious discrimination. Implement clear and escalating penalties for repeated offenders institutions of higher education (IHE). Make sure Title VI is enforced with the same rigour against anti-Semitic discrimination, as is the case with other forms of discrimination. You are obligated to notify students, faculty and staff if they are found in violation of Title VI. Instructs the U.S. Department of Education to oversee private lawsuits against universities receiving federal financial aid related to anti-Semitism.
