To the editor: The U.S. authorities has pressured Columbia College to pay fines and introduce controversial insurance policies due to what it labels antisemitism (“Columbia genocide scholar could go away over new definition of antisemitism. She’s not alone,” July 28). However criticism of the Israeli authorities’s insurance policies, and of the nation itself, shouldn’t be a mirrored image of antisemitism, simply as criticism of the US and its Republican-majority authorities and its insurance policies shouldn’t be anti-Christian. Each international locations permit dissent, and we have now witnessed huge protests towards each governments by residents of all stripes.
Two issues may be true without delay. Hamas militants dedicated heinous crimes in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, whereas Israel is arguably committing crimes towards humanity in Gaza. There may be greater than sufficient criticism to go round of atrocities dedicated by each Hamas and Israel. Emotions are working excessive on either side, however college students shouldn’t be suspended or expelled from universities for peacefully demonstrating towards the Israeli authorities.
As distasteful and disgusting as some statements have been, the first Modification to the Structure protects freedom of speech. But, the Trump administration’s insurance policies and actions are repressive to primary freedoms. It has taken one aspect, Israel’s, whereas scapegoating the opposite.
Richard Z. Fond, Sherman Oaks
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To the editor: Marianne Hirsch, daughter of Holocaust survivors and Columbia scholar, accurately opposed President Trump’s inclusion of criticism of Israel in defining antisemitism. 1000’s of Jews worldwide are anti-Zionist (as in, disapproving of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian-sought territories) and we are able to relaxation assured they’re seemingly not antisemitic.
With Columbia College’s suspension or expulsion of almost 80 college students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, we could fairly concern that President Trump is steadily marching towards making pro-Palestinian or anti-Zionist protest or commentary a detainable offense for any citizen.
Phil Barnes, San Pedro
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To the editor: The federal shakedown of universities continues. Cornell, Harvard — and now the White Home extortion ring has come for the West Coast (“UCLA violated Jewish college students’ civil rights with ‘deliberate indifference,’ feds say,” July 29).
The federal government desires to suppress free speech and pupil protests. It desires to intimidate the college’s educating and writing. As a substitute of opening younger minds to opposing views and significant considering, it desires to impose a authorities group-think mentality and stifle free expression.
Blackmailers are by no means happy. They return on the slightest perceived infraction. Don’t let the Trump administration hit the mute button in increased schooling.
Donna Sloan, Los Angeles
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To the editor: One would have thought the Democrats would have been the defenders of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that makes it unlawful to discriminate towards race, coloration or faith, whether or not within the office or on college campuses. Not so. It took the Republicans to take motion towards antisemitism on school campuses. Whereas Democrats took the “see no evil, hear no evil, converse no evil” stance towards antisemitism, Republicans are literally doing one thing about it.
Neil Snow, Manhattan Seaside
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To the editor: How really unhappy to see the Division of Justice leveling such prices towards my alma mater. Former UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block’s makes an attempt to regulate the chaotic state of affairs could haven’t labored as efficiently as hoped, however to say that the state of affairs was as a result of antisemitic bias on the a part of the campus administration looks like a ridiculous stretch.
Noel Johnson, Glendale
