Gov. Maura Healey is little doubt hopeful when she claims that there isn’t any room for antisemitism in Massachusetts.
However there seems to be loads of room for such hate within the public college system.
That, not less than, is the under-reported conclusion of the Particular Fee on Combatting Antisemitism for Okay-12 Schooling in Massachusetts.
Healey made her earlier feedback in response to a pro-Palestinian heckler who accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Healey was on GBH radio defending the launch of an Israel-based well being care accelerator agency in Massachusetts.
In a narrative reported by the State Home Information Service, Healey stated, “We will have agreements and disagreements about coverage points. However on the finish of the day, you realize, let’s do not forget that there isn’t any place for antisemitism in Massachusetts.”
Shortly after Healey had accomplished her feedback than the fee, in its preliminary working report, coincidentally discovered that antisemitism within the public college system — particularly after the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel — is rising.
Antisemitism within the faculties, the fee discovered, “is a pervasive and escalating drawback, with numerous reported incidents of hate, bullying, harassment skilled by households and academics.”
“Many Jewish college students in Massachusetts faculties are scared to publicly show their Judaism or let different is aware of they’re Jewish for concern of disparate therapy or bullying.”
It stated, “Antisemitic hate crimes in Massachusetts are rising — by over 20 per cent in 2024 alone — on the identical time general violent crime is lowering in Massachusetts.” And lots of the antisemitic crimes will not be reported out of concern of retaliation.
It stated that the assorted type of antisemitism consists of “swastika graffiti, Holocaust jokes or denial, harassment or discrimination primarily based on perceived relationship to Israel or precise Israeli citizenship, and harassment directed in the direction of Jewish people whereas utilizing the time period ‘Zionist’ as a alternative slur.”
So, whereas Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Healey can brag about how protected Boston and the state are, issues will not be so comfy or protected for Jewish Individuals within the public college system.
And there’s no assist in combating antisemitism from the Massachusetts Lecturers Affiliation, in line with the report. The alternative is true.
Actually, the fee, which is headed by state Sen. John Velis of Westfield and Rep Simon Cataldo of Harmony, reported that the MTA contributed to the issue by exposing college students “to content material and curriculum that accommodates inaccurate, decontextualized and dangerous materials round Israel and the Jewish folks.”
It stated that “related problematic content material and assets have been endorsed or promoted by means of the Massachusetts Lecturers Affiliation.”
Whereas the fee is to be lauded for exposing antisemitism within the public college system, its suggestions fall far in need of fixing it.
Moderately than suspending or throwing antisemite college students harassing Jewish college students out of the varsity, or firing antisemitic academics, the fee, sounding like Healey, really useful that “Faculty officers ought to make sturdy, clear statements that antisemitism is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.”
Besides when it’s.
Nonetheless, as State Home legislative commissions go, the Velis/Cataldo fee has carried out good work, contemplating it may have ended up like so many previous commissions.
As an example, the legislative fee to switch the “discriminatory” Commonwealth’s state seal was established 5 years in the past and has but to provide you with a design.
So, we’ll take what we are able to get.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas may be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
