Oppose/Vote NO on S.558 - Protect Student Civil Rights

Today I’m writing to urge you to oppose and vote NO on the so-called “Antisemitism Awareness Act”, S.558, proposed by Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina. Far from truly opposing anti-semitism, this deceptive bill poses a serious threat to civil rights and academic freedom on college campuses. While I agree that addressing antisemitism is a valid cause, this legislation would enable the current government to exploit the issue in order to suppress free speech, censor curricula, and target students from particular backgrounds for deportation. Instead of refuting and combating discrimination, S.558 is deviously written to provide tools for discrimination, and it does this by codifying an overly broad definition of antisemitism. The bill, if signed into law, could be wielded against students advocating for Palestinian rights or questioning certain policies related to Israel. As many civil rights coalitions argue, we need comprehensive strategies to tackle all forms of hate and bias, not piecemeal legislation that undermines core constitutional protections, and are divisive on purpose. Certainly, the current Justice Department, headed by Attorney General Bondi, and the horribly biased and partisan Harmeet Dhillon in the Civil Rights Division would use bill to persecute anyone they like. They’ve literally admitted it in covert language on national news coverage. Gutting free speech rights and due process in the name of fighting antisemitism is the tool of authoritarians. The Trump administration has already abused its power in this area to an unacceptable degree. Passing S.558 would further embolden further executive and Justice Department overreach and make campuses less welcoming for students of diverse backgrounds. Instead, we must return to strengthening underfunded civil rights offices, restoring proper enforcement of existing anti-discrimination laws, and fostering truly inclusive campus cultures. Combating antisemitism requires open dialogue and mutual understanding, not the heavy-handed suppression of free expression. For the sake of protecting civil liberties for all students, I urge you to firmly oppose the misguided Antisemitism Awareness Act when it comes for a vote. Thank you.