Representative Kiley Writes to UCSB Chancellor Yang Demanding Explanation for Sponsoring Anti-Semitic Workshop

WASHINGTON – Yesterday Representative Kiley (R-CA) sent a letter to Henry T. Yang, Chancellor of the University of California, Santa Barbara, requesting an explanation for the University’s sponsorship and promotion of an “Anti-Palestinian Racism” workshop led by Academics for Justice in Palestine (AJP).

“AJP’s presentation framed Zionism, a core component of Jewish identity for the vast majority of Jews, as something to be deconstructed and separated from Jewish identity. It went further by mischaracterizing federal Title VI protections for Jewish students as ‘developed from anti-Palestinian racist frameworks,’ distorting their purpose and undermining efforts to combat antisemitism. This misrepresentation emboldens campus hostility against Jewish students. Furthermore, UCSB Student Affairs’ endorsement of this session—without engaging Jewish community representatives—raises serious concerns about whether Jewish voices are being excluded from conversations about their own identity and safety on campus.

“The fact that this workshop was approved just weeks after the University of California settled an investigation with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights casts doubt on the university’s commitment to upholding its obligations under federal law. Given the rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses nationwide, UCSB’s decision to align itself with a group openly hostile to Jewish self-determination is unacceptable,” Rep. Kiley stated in the letter.

Click here to read the full letter.

BACKGROUND:

In 2023 alone, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tracked an unprecedented 922 antisemitic incidents on college and university campuses—732 of which occurred between October 7 and the end of the calendar year. This reflects a staggering 1217% increase over the past 20 years. In September 2024, Representative Kiley and Representative Jake Auchincloss led a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) to convene a briefing on the alarming rise of antisemitism on college and university campuses, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023.

Earlier this year, the USCCR unanimously voted to advance an investigation into the surge in antisemitism on college and university campuses. This report will include findings into how the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education and the Department of Justice responded to this increase.

###