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, just isn’t a mirrored image of antisemitism, simply as criticism of america and its Republican-majority authorities and its insurance policies just isn’t anti-Christian. Each nations enable dissent, and we’ve witnessed large protests towards each governments by residents of all stripes.
Two issues will 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 each 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 facet, 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 moderately 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 needs to suppress free speech and pupil protests. It needs to intimidate the college’s instructing and writing. As an alternative of opening younger minds to opposing views and demanding pondering, it needs to impose a authorities group-think mentality and stifle free expression.
Blackmailers are by no means glad. They return on the slightest perceived infraction. Don’t let the Trump administration hit the mute button in increased training.
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, shade or faith, whether or not within the office or on faculty 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, communicate 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 scenario could haven’t labored as efficiently as hoped, however to claim that the scenario was attributable to antisemitic bias on the a part of the campus administration looks like a ridiculous stretch.
Noel Johnson, Glendale
