WASHINGTON – Today Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) sent 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.

“The start of the academic year should be a time of excitement and learning, yet Jewish students are increasingly reporting that they feel unsafe due to the surge in antisemitic rhetoric and actions on their campuses. This hostile environment not only threatens the physical safety of students, but also negatively impacts their academic experiences and well-being.”

“We respectfully request that the USCCR investigate the current state of antisemitism on campus and issue a report with recommended steps Congress and federal agencies can take to protect Jewish students and foster a safe learning environment moving forward.”

You can read the letter here.

Background:

In 2004, the USCCR published a report on campus antisemitism, documenting 70 reported incidents of antisemitism on college campuses. Since then, the problem has worsened dramatically. 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.

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