04.23.24

Sullivan, Cotton, Colleagues Demand Biden Administration Protect Jewish Students from Pro-Hamas, Antisemitic Mobs

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), along with 25 of their Senate Republican colleagues, sent a letter today to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging them to restore order to campuses that have been effectively shut down by antisemitic mobs that are targeting Jewish students. The senators requested Attorney General Garland and Secretary Cardona provide an update on efforts to protect Jewish students by Wednesday, April 24.

“America’s so-called elite universities used to be a positive source of our nation’s power, strength and influence. No longer. Turn on any TV today, and you will see many of these once-respected institutions being overrun by antisemitic mobs threatening Jewish students and shouting their support for terrorist organizations hellbent on murdering Jews and destroying America and the state of Israel,” said Sen. Sullivan. “It is hard to believe we’re seeing this in America in the 21st century. I’m glad to join Sen. Cotton and my Republican colleagues in demanding the Biden administration revoke visas for any exchange students fomenting these riots, hold feckless university leaders accountable for their role in this travesty, and stand up to defend the safe environment due to all students.”

On December 15, 2023, Sen. Sullivan published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal detailing an encounter he had with an antisemitic group of students occupying Harvard’s Widener Library.

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) co-signed the letter.

Full text of the letter may be found below:

Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Cardona,

We write regarding the outbreak of antisemitic, pro-terrorist mobs on college campuses. These pro-Hamas rioters have effectively shut down college campuses and have literally chased Jewish students away from our schools. The Department of Education and federal law enforcement must act immediately to restore order, prosecute the mobs who have perpetuated violence and threats against Jewish students, revoke the visas of all foreign nationals (such as exchange students) who have taken part in promoting terrorism, and hold accountable school administrators who have stood by instead of protecting their students.

Anti-Israel protestors, spurred on by prominent leftists, have gathered on college campuses in recent days, chanting antisemitic slogans and directly threatening Jewish students. The situation has so devolved that a prominent Jewish rabbi at Columbia University urged Jewish students to flee campus and stay away for their own safety. Columbia University has been one of the most public examples, but violence and threats against Jewish students have also been committed at other so-called “elite” universities in recent days. For example, at Yale University, a Jewish student journalist was reportedly attacked over the weekend by a pro-Hamas mob while attempting to film a protest. 

You need to take action to restore order and protect Jewish students on our college campuses. President Biden issued a statement on Sunday, purporting to condemn the outbreak of antisemitism. If that statement was serious, it must be accompanied by immediate action from your departments.

Rioting violates federal law. Violence or attempted violence against anyone because of their Jewish heritage violates federal law. School administrators’ failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination or harassment violates federal law and is grounds for those schools losing access to federal funds. Espousing support for terrorists such as Hamas violates federal immigration law and is grounds for deportation. Please provide our offices with an update on your efforts to enforce these and related laws on college campuses as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 5:00PM on Wednesday, April 24.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

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