AMCHA’S Responses to Antisemitic Activity at Western Washington University
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1. In response to antisemitic activity on campus, President Bruce Shepard formed a task force to address campus antisemitism.
- INCIDENT: In consideration of the students’ request, Western Washington University did not release the incidents of antisemitism. However, incidents may have involved, as speculated, a swastika on a student’s door as well as “expletive Jews” shouted by protesters while leaving an event concerning Israel. In response, President Bruce Shepard formed a task force to address antisemitism on campus.
- 4/14/16 – AMCHA’S RESPONSE: AMCHA Initiative released a statement commending President Shepard for creating a task force to address campus antisemitism. The statement read, “We appreciate President Shepard’s formation of a task force to address anti-Semitism at Western Washington University. Frighteningly anti-Semitism on college campuses coast to coast is rising at an alarming rate and, for those of us monitoring it on a regular basis, it is often a direct result of contentious anti-Zionist activities on campus, particularly BDS. With the rise of the campus anti-Zionist movement has come a rise in anti-Semitism. While not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, much of the rhetoric these days includes classic, centuries-old anti-Semitic stereotypes that incite anti-Jewish bigotry on campus. The lines between appropriate debate and discourse have been blurred and more and more involve hate. Sadly, Jewish students are often caught in the crossfire, regardless of how they personally feel about Israel. In fact, just last month, the University of California acknowledged in its new Intolerance Policy that anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism often go hand in hand. We commend President Shepard for recognizing this growing and serious problem and taking action to address it.”