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 may leave 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, isn’t a mirrored image of antisemitism, simply as criticism of the USA and its Republican-majority authorities and its insurance policies isn’t anti-Christian. Each international locations permit dissent, and now we have witnessed huge protests in opposition to each governments by residents of all stripes.
Two issues may be true directly. Hamas militants dedicated heinous crimes in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, whereas Israel is arguably committing crimes in opposition to humanity in Gaza. There may be greater than sufficient criticism to go round of atrocities dedicated by each Hamas and Israel. Emotions are operating excessive on each side, however college students shouldn’t be suspended or expelled from universities for peacefully demonstrating in opposition to 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 fundamental 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 will relaxation assured they’re doubtless not antisemitic.
With Columbia College’s suspension or expulsion of almost 80 college students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, we could fairly worry 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 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 important considering, it needs 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 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 in opposition to race, shade or faith, whether or not within the office or on college campuses. Not so. It took the Republicans to take motion in opposition to antisemitism on faculty campuses. Whereas Democrats took the “see no evil, hear no evil, converse no evil” stance in opposition to antisemitism, Republicans are literally doing one thing about it.
Neil Snow, Manhattan Seashore
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To the editor: How actually unhappy to see the Division of Justice leveling such expenses in opposition to my alma mater. Former UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block’s makes an attempt to manage the chaotic scenario could haven’t labored as efficiently as hoped, however to say that the scenario was as a consequence of antisemitic bias on the a part of the campus administration looks as if a ridiculous stretch.
Noel Johnson, Glendale
