Free Speech

Report ordered by Hochul calls for ‘overhaul’ of CUNY antisemitism policies

Luke Tress in JTA · 24 Sep

A comprehensive report commissioned by Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for a sweeping overhaul of the City University of New York's (CUNY) policies on antisemitism and discrimination.

0 Politics Antisemitism

At Senate hearing on antisemitism, protester interrupts to curse out 'Jews and Israelis’

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward · 17 Sep

During a recent Senate hearing focused on antisemitism and broader hate crimes, a protester interrupted with antisemitic remarks, sparking heated exchanges among senators.

0 Antisemitism Education

Deborah Lipstadt on the ‘Tsunami’ of Antisemitism

Lisa Hostein in Hadassah · 17 Sep

Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, a leading expert on antisemitism, addresses the alarming rise in Jew-hatred globally, particularly after the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel.

0 Politics Education

Senate to advance contentious bill to crack down on anti-Israel activity on campus

Jacob Kornbluh in Forward · 16 Sep

The U.S. Senate is poised to advance the Antisemitism Awareness Act, compelling the Department of Education to apply the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, classifying much anti-Zionism as antisemitic, when probing discrimination allegations on campuses.

0 Politics Communities

Antifa Must Obey the Law

Ben West in Tablet · 10 Sep

The article is a firsthand account by Ben West, a county commissioner and U.S. Navy Reserve officer, discussing the legal and social challenges posed by the presence of antifa and other extremist groups in Portland, Oregon, and its suburbs like Clackamas County.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Campuses are banning discrimination against Zionists. That's good news for the pro-Palestinian camp

Nadav Ziv in Forward · 7 Sep

Colleges and universities, like NYU and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, are implementing new policies to prevent discrimination against Zionists, recognizing an overlap between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

0 Politics Culture

An A-list Hollywood agent’s menacing pro-Israel message lands him in hot water

Andrew Lapin in Forward · 5 Sep

Hollywood agent Brandt Joel faces fallout in the entertainment industry after a controversial pro-Israel message in a WhatsApp group resulted in him losing at least one major client, Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali.

0 Politics Education

Jewish City Council members call on CUNY to act after protesters rally to ‘bring the war home’

Jackie Hajdenberg in JTA · 4 Sep

In response to recent protests against Hillel events at Baruch and Hunter Colleges, members of the New York City Council, including the Jewish Caucus, are urging the City University of New York (CUNY) to take action to ensure the safety of Jewish students while balancing free speech rights.

0 Antisemitism Television/Film

On X, Tucker Carlson hosts ‘historian’ who says the Nazis didn’t mean for the Holocaust to happen

Andrew Lapin in JTA · 4 Sep

Tucker Carlson hosted controversial self-proclaimed historian Darryl Cooper on his talk show hosted on the social media platform X. Cooper, during the interview, suggested that the Holocaust was an unintended consequence of Nazi unpreparedness, contradicting well-documented historical facts about the Holocaust as a deliberate genocide orchestrated by the Nazis.

0 Politics Ethics

'From the river to the sea' is not hate speech says Meta's Oversight Board

Mira Fox in Forward · 4 Sep

Meta's Oversight Board has ruled that the phrase 'from the river to the sea' is not considered hate speech or incitement, contrary to claims by groups like the Anti-Defamation League that it represents antisemitism and threats against Jewish and Israeli individuals.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Meta panel rules that ‘from the river to the sea’ is not inherently antisemitic

Asaf Elia-Shalev in JTA · 4 Sep

Meta's Oversight Board has ruled that the phrase 'from the river to the sea,' a Palestinian slogan, isn't automatically antisemitic and should not be removed from Facebook and Instagram unless it incites violence or contains hate speech.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Jesse Brown lost 9% of his supporters after he began spotlighting antisemitism. Here's why he won't stop

Not That Kind of Rabbi · 4 Sep

Jesse Brown, a prominent media critic, discusses the backlash he faced after highlighting antisemitic incidents in Canada, which led to a significant loss of his progressive supporters.

0 Antisemitism Politics

U of Maryland grants permit for pro-Palestinian group’s campus rally on Oct. 7, upsetting Jews on campus and beyond

Andrew Lapin in JTA · 30 Aug

The University of Maryland's decision to grant a permit for a pro-Palestinian rally led by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on October 7 has drawn criticism from Jewish campus groups and parents.

0 Education Politics

Why I'm confident the war in Gaza won't ruin another year on campus

Jodi Rudoren in Forward · 30 Aug

Jodi Rudoren expresses cautious optimism about campus climates regarding Israel-Palestine debates as the new academic year begins.

0 Communities Politics

How universities have changed their policies on protest because of the war in Gaza

Odeya Rosenband in Forward · 28 Aug

In response to recent protests related to the war in Gaza, universities across the United States are implementing new policies to manage campus activism.

0 Education Antisemitism

If Labour cancels the university free speech act, Jewish students will suffer

Jewish Chronicle · 27 Aug

Senior Jewish academics are expressing concern over the potential cancellation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, fearing it could silence Jewish voices on campuses.

0 Politics Israel

Let Zionists Speak

Ken Silverman in The Beinart Notebook · 26 Aug

The article discusses the broader implications of excluding Zionists from public discourse, particularly in left-leaning spaces, where Palestinian rights are often advocated.

0 Culture Politics

Brooklyn book launch canceled over ‘Zionist’ moderator is rescheduled for next week

Luke Tress in JTA · 23 Aug

A Brooklyn bookstore event featuring journalist Joshua Leifer and moderated by Rabbi Andy Bachman was canceled due to the latter's Zionist affiliation.

0 Education Politics

As fall semester begins, University of California system takes a tougher tack on student protesters

Louis Keene in Forward · 21 Aug

Amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that led to arrests and significant damage in the spring, the University of California system recently implemented stricter rules banning tents, masks, and other protest tactics on campus to ensure safety and uphold orderly operations.

0 Politics Science

Progeria and Politics // Maybe money shouldn’t fuel elections

Avi Shafran in Ami · 14 Aug

The article discusses the contrast between the dire reality of rare genetic diseases like Progeria and the exorbitant amounts of money involved in political campaigns, particularly in the context of fundraising for elections in the United States.

0 Politics Israel

Josh Shapiro's alarmist response to campus protests should disqualify him from being Harris' running mate

Rafael Shimunov in Forward · 2 Aug

Rafael Shimunov criticizes Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's response to campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, arguing that it disqualifies him from being Kamala Harris' running mate due to his suppression of free speech, comparisons of protesters to white supremacists, and lack of nuanced approach on Palestinian issues.

0 Politics Antisemitism

Netanyahu misrepresented MIT president’s response to ‘genocide’ question

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward · 24 Jul

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu misrepresented comments made by the president of MIT during his address to Congress by claiming that the MIT president, along with the presidents of Harvard and Penn, hesitated to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews on campus, whereas in reality, MIT's president, Sally Kornbluth, gave a clear and direct answer stating that such behavior would be a violation of MIT's policies.

0 Antisemitism Politics

Could the Senate sneak through a controversial antisemitism definition?

Arno Rosenfeld in Forward · 16 Jul

Senator Bob Casey is pushing for the passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which aims to address campus antisemitism by using a controversial definition that equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.

0 Culture History

Vacation with A.J. Jacobs: Ep. 418

Unorthodox · 27 Jun

Author A.J. Jacobs revisits Unorthodox to discuss his new book, where he endeavors to live entirely by the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution.

0 Politics Education

Will UofT’s encampment be allowed to stay up? An Ontario court is ruling soon—here’s what you should know

The CJN Daily with Ellin Bessner · 24 Jun

An Ontario court is set to rule on the legality of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Toronto, as the university argues the protest violates the rights of Jewish and pro-Israel students while protestors claim free speech rights.

JL;DR

Tag: Free Speech