Backlash in the US: Harvard President Addresses 'Confusion' Over Her Testimony Before Congress

Harvard President Addresses 'Confusion' Over Her Testimony

The three university presidents who testified before a House committee Tuesday are facing growing criticism for not taking a stronger stance against condemning hate speech against Jewish people on campus.

During Tuesday's hearing, Rep. Elise Stefanik repeatedly asked Harvard President Claudine Gay, UPenn President Liz Magill and MIT President Sally Kornbluth if calling for the genocide of Jews violates their univerisity's code of conduct or rules regarding bullying or harassment. Each explained the answer is dependent upon the context and if the speech turns into conduct, and would not answer with a "yes" or "no" when asked– sparking growing outrage.

Wednesday, Gay addressed "confusion" surrounding her testimony, saying Harvard would take action against those who threaten Jewish students.

"There are some who have confused a right to free expression with the idea that Harvard will condone calls for violence against Jewish students," Gay wrote in a statement posted on Harvard's X account.

"Let me be clear: Calls for violence or genocide against the Jewish community, or any religious or ethnic group are vile, they have no place at Harvard, and those who threaten our Jewish students will be held to account," the statement reads.

The White House and several prominent figures, including 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley, are slamming the presidents' responses before Congress.

"It's unbelievable that this needs to be said: calls for genocide are monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country," White House spokesperson Andrew Bates shared on his X account.

"Any statements that advocate for the systematic murder of Jews are dangerous and revolting – and we should all stand firmly against them, on the side of human dignity and the most basic values that unite us as Americans," he said.

Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, shared Stefanik's line of questioning – calling the equivocation "disgusting."

"Calling for genocide of Jews is no different than calling for genocide of any other ethnic, racial, or religious group," Haley wrote on X. "The equivocation from these college presidents is disgusting."

The republican presidential candidate threatened to pull the schools' tax exempt status if the behavior continues, should she be elected.

Penn Sued by Two Students Over 'Egregious' Antisemitism

Two University of Pennsylvania students filed a lawsuit against the school over "egregious" civil rights violations.

The pair claims Penn has "enabled" systemic antisemitism on its campus, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint lists several "vile and threatening" antisemitic slurs and chants heard on campus in classrooms against Jews– which the students call "relentless and intolerable."

"Penn enforces its own rules of conduct selectively to avoid protecting Jewish students from hatred and harassment, hires rabidly antisemitic professors who call for anti-Jewish violence and spread terrorist propaganda," the complaint reads in part.

The complaint continues to argue that antisemitism has been a growing issue on campus for years, but was "turbocharged" following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Students Eyal Yakoby and Jordan Davis filed the suit in Philadelphia federal court in Dec. 5, the same day university president Liz Magill testified before a House committee on antisemitism.

Penn is now one of three major colleges, after NYU and UC Berkeley, facing lawsuits over antisemitism in recent weeks. A federal investigation is also underway into Penn over alleged antisemitism and/or Islamophobia.

President Magill reiterated her condemnation of antisemitism in the "strongest possible" terms during Tuesday's hearing, and also discussed the task of balancing safety and free expression on campus.

"In these times, these competing principles can be difficult to balance, but I am determined to get it right, and we must get this right," Magill said. "The stakes are too high. Penn would not be what it is today without the strong Jewish community... past, present and future."

Robert Kraft Matches $100M Donation to Combat Antisemitism

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is matching a $100 million donation to his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism— saying "fighting this hate" will be the most "meaningful and fulfilling action of my life."

Wednesday, Kraft announced his pledge to match the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation's generous donation, totaling $200 million.

The billionaire says the foundation combats Jewish hate and other forms of hatred in the U.S by "changing hearts and minds through empathy, powerful messaging, partnerships, and education."

"We wanted to capitalize on our work during a time in which it is needed now more than ever," Kraft said in a statement.

The announcement comes one day after Congress grilled three presidents of top universities over rising antisemitism on campus amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Earlier this year, Foundation to Combat Antisemitism launched a "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign which Kraft says "doubled the number of target audience members who were aware of Jewish hate and also nearly doubled the number of people who were willing to stand up to it."

Bill Ackman: Harvard, UPenn, MIT Presidents 'Must All Resign'

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is calling for the presidents of Harvard– his alma mater– the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT to resign after their "extraordinary" testimony before a House committee on antisemitism on campus.

Ackman and X owner Elon Musk are among those slamming the university leaders' response to the question: Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate their univerisity's code of conduct or rules regarding bullying or harassment?

Rep. Elise Stefanik repeatedly asked Harvard President Claudine Gay, UPenn President Liz Magill and MIT President Sally Kornbluth that question, asking for a "yes" or "no" response. Each essentially said the answer is dependent upon the context and if the speech turns into conduct.

"They must all resign in disgrace," Ackman wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"If a CEO of one of our companies gave a similar answer, he or she would be toast within the hour," he continued. "Why has antisemitism exploded on campus and around the world? Because of leaders like Presidents Gay, Magill and Kornbluth who believe genocide depends on the context."

X owner Elon Musk shared Ackman's response, offering an answer to Stefanik's question.

"Let me help them [the university presidents] out here: "Calling for the genocide [death] of anyone obviously constitutes harassment," Musk wrote.

The New York congresswoman's line of questioning was among the most agressive throughout the nearly five hour hearing before the House Education & the Workforce Committee Tuesday. The presidents defended their actions in the wake of rising antisemitism and other forms of hate on campus since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Committee chair Virginia Foxx called on the leaders to rise and meet the challenge of fighting antisemitism on campuses.

"As you do the practical work of protecting your campus, you must also do the rhetorical work of changing hearts and minds– that's your job as a campus president," Foxx said to the university presidents in her closing statement Tuesday. "That means being willing to risk your job to speak truth clearly, consistently, and unapologetically, even when the Jew-haters turn their hate to you."

New Discrimination Probes Announced as College Presidents Prepare to Testify Before Congress

The Israel-Hamas war enters its second month Saturday. Here's a look at some major events that unfolded this week and a preview of what's ahead.

UC Berkeley Sued:

The Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education filed a lawsuit against UC Berkeley and University of California leaders Tuesday, over the "longstanding, unchecked spread of antisemitism" on Berkeley's campus.

Among major issues– the group is suing over policies enacted by at least 23 campus law organizations, calling it a "Zionist ban" that discriminates against and excludes Jewish students, faculty, and scholars.

More Schools Under Federal Investigation:

Additional colleges, K-12 school districts and educational institutions are under federal investigation for possible civil rights violations.

The U.S. Department of Education opened investigations at the following: Harvard University, the University of Tampa, Las Vegas' Clark County School District, Tampa's Hillsborough County Schools and the New York City Department of Education.

Those institutions join six other colleges and a Kansas K-12 school district also under investigation for alleged shared ancestry violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Musk's Message and Israel Trip:

Tech billionaire Elon Musk isn't concerned about advertisers on X– or if an advertising boycott kills the company– amid weeks of backlash surrounding antisemitic and other hateful content on the social media platform.

Musk told advertisers who are attempting to "blackmail" him with advertising to go "f*** yourself," during an on-stage interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit Wednesday.

"Go. F***. Yourself. Is that clear? "I hope it is," Musk said.

Disney is among the major companies who pulled advertising in recent weeks. Musk appeared to call out Disney CEO Bob Iger, waving, "Hey Bob! If you're in the audience."

The Tesla CEO also apologized for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X, which helped fuel the advertiser exodus.

"I should, in retrospect, not have replied to that particular post, and should have expanded in greater length about what I meant," Musk said, calling it one of the "most foolish" things he's posted on X.

Earlier this week, Musk met with top leaders in Israel and toured a kibbutz that was attacked by Hamas militants. Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Musk that he has a "huge role to play" in fighting antisemitism on his platforms.

"I think we need to fight this together, because the platforms you lead, unfortunately, have a large reservoir of hatred, hatred of Jews, antisemitism," Herzog said, according to a readout.

The Week Ahead:

The presidents of Harvard, UPenn, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are scheduled to testify in a Congressional hearing on antisemitism on Tuesday.

UPenn is under federal investigation over alleged incidents of antisemitism or Islamophobia and the DoE is also looking into possible discrimination at Harvard.

Who Will Address the Committee?

• Harvard University President Dr. Claudine Gay
• UPenn President Liz Magill
• MIT President Dr. Sally Kornbluth
• American University Professor of History and Jewish Studies, Dr. Pamela Nadell

"Over the past several weeks, we've seen countless examples of antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses," committee chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx said in a statement. "Meanwhile, college administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow."

The hearing, called, "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism," is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10:15 a.m. ET.

List: Colleges, K-12 School Districts Under Federal Investigation for Possible Civil Rights Violations

Harvard University, the New York City Department of Education and Las Vegas' Clark County School District, have been added to a growing list of institutions under federal investigation for possible civil rights violations.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said the list includes institutions under investigation for possible discrimination involving "shared ancestry;" further details are not provided.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was investigating a handful of antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at colleges and school districts– designated below with asterisks– and would update its list weekly.

The department's Open Title VI Shared Ancestry Investigations list includes the following, as of 11/28:

• Harvard University
• University of Tampa
• Clark County School District– Las Vegas, NV
• Hillsborough County Schools– Tampa, FL
• New York City Department of Education
• *Cornell University
• *Columbia University
• *Lafayette College
• *University of Pennsylvania
• *Wellesley College
• *The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• *Maize Unified School District– Maize, KS

"Hate has no place in our schools, period," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said when announcing the probe in mid-November. "When students are targeted because they are—or are perceived to be—Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn."

There has been a surge in hateful incidents and harrassment on campuses, largely described as antisemitic or Islamophobic, following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The presidents of Harvard and UPenn are among those scheduled to testify in a Congressional hearing on antisemitism next week.

Those in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 can lose federal funding.

Poll: Majority of Jewish College Students Don't Feel Safe on Campus

More than half of Jewish college students in the U.S. do not feel safe on campus following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a new survey released by Jewish advocacy groups shows.

The poll, conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Hillel International, found only 46% of Jewish students feel physically safe on campus since Oct. 7, compared to nearly 70% prior to the attacks.

A significant number of students surveyed also feel less comfortable with others knowing they're Jewish– around 39% after Oct. 7, compared to around 64% prior.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those polled have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

"No student should feel threatened or intimidated on campus," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "No student should feel the need to hide their religious or cultural identities. But this is the sad reality for American Jews on campus today."

The data shows the impact of a rise in antisemitism on campuses in the weeks following Oct. 7, which ADL describes as "emblematic of an issue that has been festering on college campuses for much longer."

The survey was conducted among approximately 1,600 Jewish college students between Nov. 6-10.

Harvard, UPenn, MIT Presidents to Testify Before Congress

The Presidents of Harvard, UPenn, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will testify in a Congressional hearing on antisemitism next week.

The hearing, "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism," will be held before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Committee chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx accused college administrators of allowing "horrific rhetoric to fester and grow" on college campuses, as antisemitic demonstrations have spiked in the weeks since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

"College and university presidents have a responsibility to foster and uphold a safe learning environment for their students and staff," Foxx said in a statement.

Harvard University President Dr. Claudine Gay, UPenn President Liz Magill and MIT President Dr. Sally Kornbluth are all scheduled to testify.

UPenn is among six universities under federal investigation over reported incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia. The U.S. Department of Education is investigating the complaints and if they violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"By holding this hearing, we are shining the spotlight on these campus leaders and demanding they take the appropriate action to stand strong against antisemitism," Foxx said.

UC Berkeley Sued for 'Unchecked' Antisemitism

A nonprofit legal advocacy organization sued UC Berkeley and University of California leaders Tuesday, over the "longstanding, unchecked spread of antisemitism" on Berkeley's campus.

The Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. The complaint argues that the school's inaction against antisemitism has resulted in "hatred, harassment, and physical violence" against Jews following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The group is suing over policies enacted by at least 23 campus law organizations, calling it a "Zionist ban" that discriminates against and excludes Jewish students, faculty, and scholars.

"Conditioning a Jew's ability to participate in a student group on his or her renunciation of a core component of Jewish identity is no less pernicious than demanding the renunciation of some other core element of a student's identity—whether based on race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual identity," the complaint reads.

The complaint says antisemitism has been ''allowed to take root and grow" at Berkeley's law school and accuses university leaders of showing a "general disregard" for Jewish students. Several incidents of alleged violence and discrimination against Jewish students in the weeks following Oct. 7 are also listed, which the suit argues are in violation of university and federal laws.

University of California Regents, UC President Michael Drake, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ are among those named in the suit.

Adams Slams Riot at Queens High School– 'Vile Show of Antisemitism'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned a "vile show of antisemitism" at a Queens high school, after a student riot left a teacher hiding in a classroom closet. The chaos is one of at least two incidents under investigation at Hillcrest High School.

Last week, chaos erupted on campus after students learned a teacher attended a pro-Israel rally. Students rioted and chased the teacher– who ran and hid in a classroom closet, WNBC reports. Video of the riot went viral.

Adams said NYC Public Schools is conducting a full investigation and outreach would begin with students "to ensure they understand why this behavior was unacceptable."

"The vile show of antisemitism at Hillcrest High School was motivated by ignorance-fueled hatred, plain and simple, and it will not be tolerated in any of our schools, let alone anywhere else in our city," Adams wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Earlier this month, Hillcrest High School students also attacked a safety officer on campus. The New York Police Department (NYPD) said multiple people were taken into custody and charged for assaulting the officer.

NYC Councilmember Vickie Paladino called for the school to shut down pending the investigations and accused school administrators of covering up the incidents.

"It's clear that the administration of Hillcrest is totally compromised and either unwilling or unable to do what's necessary to provide a safe environment to their students or their faculty," Paladino wrote on X.

"Furthermore, they seem more than willing to cover up crimes committed by their students in service of a political narrative, and to prevent these criminal students from facing consequences."

Herzog: Elon Musk Has 'Huge' Role to Play in Fighting Antisemitism on X

Israeli President Isaac Herzog told tech billionaire Elon Musk that he has a "huge role to play" in fighting antisemitism on his platforms.

The two met in Israel Monday, where the X owner toured the Gaza border and met with top leaders amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Musk has been under fire for antisemitic content on X, formerly Twitter, exacerbated with his own reply to an antisemitic post. The fallout has resulted in several major companies pulling advertisements off of the platform. Herzog said there is a substantial amount of antisemitic content circulating on X.

"I think we need to fight this together, because the platforms you lead, unfortunately, have a large reservoir of hatred, hatred of Jews, antisemitism," Herzog told Musk, according to a translated readout. "I think we need to discuss how to move forward and how to fight this hatred to make the world a better place, a safer place."

Musk responded, saying, "We need to do everything possible to stop the hate."

"These people have been fed propaganda since they were children, and it is amazing what humans are capable of doing if they are fed lies, since they are children - they will think that murdering innocents is a good thing, which shows how much propaganda can affect people's minds," Musk added, according to the readout.

Earlier Monday, the tech billionaire and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured a kibbutz in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas militants last month. Musk called the scene of the massacre "jarring" during a live chat with Netanyahu on X.

After the tour, the Tesla CEO said three things must happen in Gaza.

"There is no choice but to kill those who insist on murdering civilians... change the education so that the new generation of killers will not be trained to be killers... [and] try to build prosperity," Musk told Herzog, the readout concluded.

NYU Alumni Club of Israel Suspends Ties With School Over Antisemitism

New York University's (NYU) Alumni Club of Israel is suspending ties with the school over its handling of rising antisemitism on campus since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The group wrote a letter to President Linda Mills and University Board of Trustees Chairman Evan Chesler, saying it is cutting ties with the university until administrators "protect its Jewish students."

"We, the alumni of NYU in Israel, cannot stand in silence while NYU students and faculty members chant for the annihilation of the Jewish State of Israel, and intimidate and assault Jewish students on NYU's campus," the letter reads in part.

The group met with administrators on Nov. 1, raising concerns of recent antisemitic incidents and slamming the school for saying there are "multiple interpretations" of the phrase "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free."

"Times like these require not just words but moral leadership and action," the club's letter reads. "Until the University can protect its Jewish students from the extreme rhetoric and violence of faculty and student-led hate groups using NYU's name, the NYU Alumni Club of Israel suspends any cooperation and affiliation with NYU and its institutions."

The group is calling on NYU to ensure the university's non-discrimination policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, sanction students and student groups who engage in antisemitic or hate speech or action, publish a public condemnation of the phrase "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free" and remove faculty members who "engage in hate speech, harass Jewish students, and/or encourage student participation in antisemitic activities."

NYU is also facing a lawsuit from three Jewish students who accuse the school of "egregious civil rights violations" and an indifference towards antisemitic incidents on campus.

Elon Musk's X Sues Media Matters Over 'Manufactured' Report

Elon Musk's X filed a lawsuit against Media Matters for America, accusing the liberal advocacy group of manufacturing a report that highlighted antisemitic and pro-Nazi content on the social media platform.

Over the past week, major companies have pulled advertisements from X, formerly Twitter, over concerns of appearing next to hateful content on the platform. Musk also added to the fallout after endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory last Wednesday.

"Looking to portray X's social networking platform as being dominated by 'white nationalist and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,' Media Matters knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp.'s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content and then portrayed these manufactured images as if they were what typical X users experience on the platform," the complaint filed in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, reads.

"Media Matters designed both these images and its resulting media strategy to drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp," it states.

Media Matters President Angelo Carusone called Musk a "bully."

"This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully X's critics into silence," Carusone said in response to the Monday lawsuit. "Media Matters stands behind its report."

Following the suit filing, Texas Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton announced his office opened an inves­ti­ga­tion into Media Mat­ters for poten­tial fraud­u­lent activity.

"Attorney General Paxton was extremely troubled by the allegations that Media Matters, a radical anti-free speech organization, fraudulently manipulated data on X.com," a Monday release from the AG's office reads.

Musk responded to Paxton's investigation, saying, "Fraud has both civil & criminal penalties."

Suspicious Packages Found at 5 Seattle Jewish Centers This Month

The FBI is investigating a series of suspicious packages sent to multiple Seattle synagogues in recent weeks.

Envelopes, many containing white powder, have been sent to five Jewish centers this month– the most recent discovered at Seattle's Chabad of Capitol Hill & the Central Area over the weekend. The Seattle Fire Department determined the contents were not hazardous.

"It's very disturbing that either this individual or group, we don't know who it is... given the rise of antisemitism in America and the world," Rabbi Levi Leviton of Chabad of Capitol Hill & Central Area told KIRO-TV. "This will not deter us in any way."

On Nov. 3, police received calls of suspicious packages found at Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation, the Congregation Ezra Bessaroth and Hillel at the University of Washington. Then on Nov. 6, a package was found at Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch, prompting evacuations.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell called the discoveries "extremely disturbing."

"I'm grateful that first responders were able to swiftly determine these were non-hazardous materials, but there is no doubt that these were sent with the intent to target, harm, and frighten Jewish neighbors," Harrell wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Nov. 3. "This targeted threat is wrong."

The FBI and police are still working to determine who is responsible and a motive.

Bomb Threats Made at Three Houses of Worship in Massachusetts

Police are investigating bomb threats made at three Jewish houses of worship across Massachusetts Sunday, as the state launches a new police unit to
respond to hate crimes.

In Hingham, a bomb threat was emailed to Congregation Sha'aray Shalom around 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, police said. Several nearby homes were evacuated as police responded; no explosives were found.

In Northampton, Florence Congregational Church– which houses a Jewish synagogue– also received an email saying a bomb was inside of the building Sunday afternoon. In Needham, police responded to Temple Beth Shalom after it too received a call reporting a threat.

All three houses of worship were cleared and police say they are increasing checks of all places of worship "for the foreseeable future," NBC10 reports.

On Monday, Gov. Maura Healey announced the creation of a new state police unit, tasked with combating hate crimes across the state. The state is also allocating about $460,000 in hate crime prevention grants to support programs that help reduce incidents of bias in schools.

"With hate crimes on the rise across the country and here in Massachusetts, it is essential that we bring people together to advance proactive solutions and support our communities," Healey said Monday. "We are also dedicating $460,000 to school districts that far too often are on the frontlines of confronting bias-motivated incidents and can be instrumental in preventing hate and creating safe environments for students and their families."

Elon Musk Calls Antisemitic Accusations 'Bogus'

What is happening on X?

The fallout continues on X after owner Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic post last week, prompting a flurry of backlash with major companies suspending ads from the social media platform.

Musk addressed accusations calling him antisemitic, saying "nothing could be further from the truth."

"This past week, there were hundreds of bogus media stories claiming that I am antisemitic," Musk posted Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I wish only the best for humanity and a prosperous and exciting future for all."

Media Matters said ads for brands including Apple, NBCUniversal, IBM, Oracle, and Comcast, were found next to antisemitic material on X. Musk called the liberal advocacy group "pure evil" in a post Monday.

Lionsgate and Paramount Global told Newsweek they are also suspending their advertising; a Lionsgate spokesperson said the move is in response to "Elon Musk's recent antisemitic tweets."

Disney has also reportedly pulled its ads, as well as the European Union.

"We have seen an alarming increase in disinformation and hate speech on several social media platforms in recent weeks, and X is certainly quite effective of that," European Commission spokesperson Johannes Bahrke said in a Friday briefing. "We have therefore advised services to refrain from advertising at this stage on concerned social media platforms, where we have concerns that such content appears in an inappropriate context."

Last week, Musk responded to a post accusing Jews of hating white people, calling it the "actual truth." The White House condemned his response, calling it an "abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms."

Musk also said he was "deeply offended" by the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) messaging for pushing "anti-white racism or anti-Asian racism or racism of any kind."

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the platform has been "extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination... there's absolutely no place for it anywhere in the world."

Meanwhile, Tesla shareholder Jerry Braakman is calling on the electric vehicle company's board of directors to suspend Musk.

"I believe in free speech, but there's no excuse for spreading hatred by a CEO of a public company," Braakman said in a statement, according to CNN.

Poll: 75% of New Yorkers Say Antisemitism Up Since Oct. 7

Nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers feel Jews across the state are experiencing antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war, a newly released Siena Research Institute poll found.

Of those surveyed, 73% felt Jews are experiencing antisemitism, with 75% saying the level of antisemitism has increased since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

The same poll found 62% believe Muslims in New York are experiencing Islamophobia, with about 60% saying it has increased amid the war.

"A strong majority comes down on the side of Israel in this ongoing war," Dr. Don Levy, Director of the Siena College Research Institute, said. "Majorities from every region and party say that the Hamas attacks should be condemned without hesitation."

The survey, released Monday, was conducted among more than 800 registered New York voters between Nov. 12 and 15.

Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced additional funding to bolster counterterrorism efforts in response to a rise in antisemitic hate crimes and threats. The state has also been working with law enforcement on transit plans ahead of the holiday season, following several recent disruptions in New York City due to protests. The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force reported a 214% spike in anti-Jewish incidents in October, according to the governor's office.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education announced that Columbia University and Cooper Union are under investigation for allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Three Jewish students also filed a lawsuit against New York University (NYU), accusing the school of "egregious civil rights violations."

Jewish Celebrities Urge TikTok to Take More Action in Combating Antisemitism

A group of Jewish celebrities are calling on TikTok to address
antisemitic content on its platform.

Some 30 celebrities and influencers, including Debra Messing, Amy Schumer and Sacha Baron Cohen, reportedly spoke with TikTok executives via video chat earlier this week about the issue.

Cohen told TikTok execs their platform is "creating the biggest antisemitic movement since the Nazis," according to The Times.

The group also voiced concerns over a viral video showing a teenager reading Osama Bin Laden's 2002 'Letter to America;' the platform has since removed the hashtag #lettertoamerica.

The call followed an open letter sent by many of the same stars and other influencers to TikTok, urging action against antisemitic harassment and content. "Your platform is not safe for Jewish users," the letter begins.

TikTok has removed 730,000 videos in violation of rules on hateful behavior since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel through October 31, according to the social media platform.

"TikTok has strict policies against hateful behavior, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, which have no place on our platform," TikTo said in a statement earlier this week.

The issue points to the ongoing challenge of moderating a massive wave of non-stop content online. There has been a surge in antisemitic hate speech in recent weeks; top social media companies including TikTok, X–formerly Twitter–, and Meta, have announced steps to moderate the messaging. Meanwhile, X's Elon Musk is facing controversy, including from the White House, after agreeing with an antisemitic post on his platform.

White House Slams Elon Musk for Promoting 'Antisemitic, Racist Hate'

The White House condemned Elon Musk for promoting "antisemitic and racist hate" – after the tech billionaire agreed with a post on his social media platform X that claimed Jewish communities push "hatred against whites."

"It unacceptable to repeat the hideous lie behind the most fatal act of Antisemitism in American history at any time," White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement. "We condemn this abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms, which runs against our core values as Americans."

The Wednesday post sparking the criticism read, "Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them," user breakingbaht wrote. "I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest sh** now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don't exactly like them too much."

Musk replied to the post, calling it, "the actual truth," and later blasted the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for its messaging.

Companies have been pulling advertising from X, formerly Twitter, over concerns of ads appearing next to hate speech amid the Israel-Hamas war– IBM is among the latest.

"IBM has zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination and we have immediately suspended all advertising on X while we investigate this entirely unacceptable situation," the company said in a statement.

Six Colleges Under Investigation for Alleged Antisemitism, Islamophobia

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating reported incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia at six colleges and one K-12 school district.

The following were named in the federal probe, as of Nov. 16: Cornell University, Columbia University, Lafayette College, University of Pennsylvania, Wellesley College, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, and Kansas' Maize Unified School District.

Five of the complaints allege antisemitic harassment and two allege anti-Muslim harassment, though the department emphasizes the claims are under investigation and there is no determination yet that laws have been violated.

"Hate has no place in our schools, period," U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement Thursday. "When students are targeted because they are—or are perceived to be—Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn."

Earlier this month, the department reminded colleges and schools of their legal obligation to provide all students with an environment "free from discrimination" under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Schools in violation can lose federal funding.

The department said it will update the list of schools under investigation weekly.

GOP Rep. Condemns 'Heinous Display of Antisemitism' Outside DNC HQ

Republican Rep. Mike Kelly condemned the "heinous display of antisemitism" that unfolded outside of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night.

"Last night, a group of pro-Hamas protesters violently attacked the Democratic National Committee headquarters near the U.S. Capitol," Rep. Kelly said in a statement. "We must condemn these violent protests in the strongest terms possible."

U.S. Capitol Police estimate 200 people were "illegally and violently protesting" during a pro-Palestinian demonstration, calling for a ceasefire. The violence erupted as Democratic representatives and candidates were inside of the building for a campaign reception. Some Congressmembers were evacuated from the Capitol amid the chaos.

"When the group moved dumpsters in front of the exits, pepper sprayed our officers and attempted to pick up the bike rack, our teams quickly introduced consequences – pulling people off the building, pushing them back, and clearing them from the area, so we could safely evacuate the Members and staff," U.S. Capitol Police said in a release Thursday.

Six officers were treated for injuries, including being pepper sprayed and punched, police said. A 24-year-old New York man was arrested for assaulting an officer.

Elon Musk Under Fire for Agreeing With Antisemitic Post

Elon Musk is facing criticism for agreeing with a post on X, claiming Jewish communities push "hatred against whites."

Musk responded to a Wednesday post on his social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, which read:

"Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them," user breakingbaht wrote. "I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest sh** now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don't exactly like them too much."

Musk replied, "You have said the actual truth," later saying the sentiment does not apply to "all" Jewish communities. The billionaire then criticized the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

"The ADL unjustly attacks the majority of the West, despite the majority of the West supporting the Jewish people and Israel," Musk wrote. "This is because they cannot, by their own tenets, criticize the minority groups who are their primary threat. It is not right and needs to stop."

In a later post, Musk continued, "And, at the risk of being repetitive, I am deeply offended by ADL's messaging and any other groups who push de facto anti-white racism or anti-Asian racism or racism of any kind. I'm sick of it. Stop now."

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt responded, calling Musk's claims "dangerous."

"At a time when antisemitism is exploding in America and surging around the world, it is indisputably dangerous to use one's influence to validate and promote antisemitic theories," Greenblatt wrote on X Thursday.

College Professor Arrested in Death of Jewish Protester

An arrest has been made in connection to the death of a Jewish protester who fell and hit his head during dueling demonstrations in Southern California earlier this month, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday.

Deputies arrested 50-year-old Loay Alnaji in Moorpark early Thursday for the death of Paul Kessler. Police say the 69-year-old died after a clash between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at a rally in Thousand Oaks. Video shows Kessler falling backwards and hitting his head during a confrontation; an autopsy determined he died from a blunt force head injury.

Alnaji, who teaches computer science at Ventura County Community College, is facing involuntary manslaughter charges. His bail has been set at $1 million.

"We are grateful for the swift work of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department in response to the tragic death of Mr. Paul Kessler," The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said in a statement to Newsweek.

"This arrest shows that violence towards our Jewish community will not be tolerated. We will continue to monitor the case to help ensure justice is served. Our heartfelt condolences continue to be with the family of Paul Kessler and may his memory forever be a blessing."

Meanwhile, the investigation is ongoing and the sheriff's office is asking the public to share any information related to the case.

"Any persons who were driving a vehicle equipped with video recording equipment, such as Teslas, in the area of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard between 3:00 p.m. and 4 p.m. on November 5th, are encouraged to reach out to detectives or utilize the link provided below to download and submit video footage," the sheriff's office wrote in a release.

NYU Announces New 'Center for the Study of Antisemitism' Amid Lawsuit

New York University (NYU) will create a "Center for the Study of Antisemitism," President Linda Mills announced Wednesday– one day after a group of Jewish students sued the university over claims of "egregious" antisemitism.

Three NYU juniors filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, accusing the university of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by "enabling campus antisemitism," and reacting with "deliberate indifference," at best. The complaint names Mills among school administrators who dismissed reports of antisemitism on campus.

Wednesday, Mills announced the establishment of the center, saying, "we are committed to maintaining a campus environment where all can study and learn in an atmosphere of respect and live free from the fear of bigotry."

The center will bring scholars and students from diverse disciplines together to research historical and contemporary forms of antisemitism as well as other forms of hate. The goal is to study how antisemitism can "best be combatted and to develop programmatic initiatives to address it," according to an NYU release.

The center will be funded by a new seven-figure donation and is expected to open in fall of 2024.

"This gift comes at just the right time—at a moment that cries out for new study, new insights, and new solutions to combating this age-old hatred," Mills said.

House Uncovers Details Into Hamas-Tied US Charities

The House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing to discuss the role American tax-exempt charities have played in supporting Hamas as well as the recent rise of antisemitism on college campuses.

"The antisemitic behavior unfolding across our country should stir the conscience of every decent American," the Ways and Means Committee wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Certain tax-exempt universities have failed to condemn this violence, while tax-exempt charities with ties to terror organizations are helping stoke it."

The committee says its Wednesday hearing will "expose" the details.

Witnesses slated to testify before the committee include: Cornell student Talia Dror, Hillel International President Adam Lehman, terrorism financing expert Jonathan Schanzer and Former Israeli Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism Noa Tishby.

Watch the hearing live below:

Antisemitic Hate Speech Spikes on Social Media

Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate speech has surged on social media since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, researchers found.

The increase was especially prevalent on X, formerly Twitter, and on fringe platforms, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Antisemitic posts surged by 919% on X after the attack, while Facebook saw a 28% increase, ADL data shows. Researchers point out the Facebook sample could only analyze public posts, whereas X included all posts.

A bulk of the war-related content is circulating on video and image-based platforms like Instagram and TikTok, researchers say, which challenges detection and moderation. "ADL found extensive hateful content, such as dehumanizing or stereotyping language, targeting Jews, Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims," an ADL release said.

In the days following the Oct. 7 attack, the European Union warned top platforms like Meta, TikTok, and X, to crack down on disinformation and violent posts related to the conflict. All three platforms responded and designating resources to moderate content.

Antisemitism and Islamophobia has also exploded on fringe platforms like 4chan, Gab, and Bitchute by nearly 500%, according to the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.

Jewish Students Sue NYU Over 'Egregious' Antisemitism

Three Jewish students are suing New York University (NYU), accusing the school of "egregious civil rights violations" that have resulted in a hostile environment for Jewish students.

"The age-old virus of antisemitism is alive and well at New York University," an 85-page complaint begins.

Bella Ingber, Sabrina Maslavi and Saul Tawil say Jewish students have been subjected to pervasive acts of hatred, discrimination, harassment and intimidation for years, adding complaints are "ignored, slow-walked, or met with gaslighting" by NYU administrators.

The students, all juniors, point to the weeks following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel as the worst example. "Nearly every day since the attack, plaintiffs and other Jewish students have been forced to run a campus gauntlet of verbal and physical harassment, threats, and intimidation," the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court reads. The group says the university has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by "enabling campus antisemitism," and reacting with "deliberate indifference," at best, it continues.

"The students are requesting that the Court order NYU to: implement institutional, far-reaching, and concrete remedial measures, including by terminating NYU personnel and students responsible for such abuse; and require NYU to pay damages to the three Jewish students, among other remedies," Kasowitz Benson Torres, the firm representing the students, wrote in a release.

An NYU spokesperson said the allegations "do not accurately describe conditions" on campus.

"NYU looks forward to setting the record straight, to challenging this lawsuit's one-sided narrative, to making clear the many efforts NYU has made to combat antisemitism and provide a safe environment for Jewish students and non-Jewish students, and to prevailing in court," spokesperson John Beckman told the New York Daily News.

Crowds March for Israel, Call for Safe Return of Hostages

A massive crowd has filled the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in a show of support for Israel and to condemn rising antisemitism in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Tens of thousands have gathered for the March for Israel rally, holding Israeli and American flags. Musicians and speakers are taking the stage as the U.S. Capitol stands in the background. The group has continuously chanted "bring them home," calling for the return of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

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Congressional leadership showed bipartisan support for Israel at the rally, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressed the crowd.

Actress Debra Messing also took the stage and condemned recent violent antisemitic acts in an inspiring speech.

"A tsunami of hate has crashed down upon us and then, a deafening silence," she said. "We see clearly now... Jew-hatred being disguised as a noble call for liberation and we reject it."

"Our light will shine until the darkness is defeated," she concluded.

Thousands to 'March for Israel' on D.C.'s National Mall

Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend onto the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Tuesday to "March for Israel," as the Israel-Hamas war enters its sixth week.

Crowds with Israeli flags started to gather on the mall early Tuesday ahead of the rally. The demonstration is an effort to denounce rising antisemitism and call for the release of some 240 hostages in Gaza.

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"The March for Israel will be an opportunity for all Americans to come together in solidarity with the people of Israel," Jewish Federations of America, an event organizer, wrote on its website.

"To demonstrate our commitment to America's most important ally in the Middle East, to condemn the rising trend of antisemitic violence and harassment, and to demand that every hostage be immediately and safely released."

Antisemitic incidents increased by 316% in the U.S. since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, new figures from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) show.

The National Guard will assist local police with traffic and crowd management at Tuesday's rally; organizers say upwards of 100,000 people may attend.

House Education Committee Holds Hearing on Campus Antisemitism

On Capitol Hill, the House Education Committee has convened a hearing to discuss antisemitism on college campuses.

Four speakers are set to testify before the Higher Education and Workforce Development subcommittee's "Confronting the Scourge of Antisemitism on Campus" hearing– as universities face growing scrutiny to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia amid the Israel-Hamas war.

"A wave of unabashed antisemitism at colleges and universities is leading to harassment and violence against the Jewish community, and it must be met with swift condemnation," chairman Rep. Burgess Owens said. "This hearing is part of our commitment to take action and ensure that students are afforded a safe learning environment. We must reclaim our nation's crumbling postsecondary education system from the illiberalism and radical ideologies that are destroying it from within."

Yale student Sahar Tartak testified before the subcommittee early Tuesday, calling out the university's administration for failing to act.

"If they [universities] fail to respond to antisemitic acts and protect their minority students, they should be stripped of their federal funding," Tartak said. "The federal government cannot subsidize hotbeds of antisemitism... academia has turned its back on us."

Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, is expected to call for more federal action amid a surge in recent antisemitic incidents across college campuses in recent weeks.

"The Department of Education should not wait for formal complaints to come in," Marcus' testimony reads. "The Department of Education also needs to pay more prompt attention to pending complaints. Jewish students should not be forced to wait months for a decision on whether or not their university protected them. They have already been victimized by antisemitism on campus -- there is no need to draw out their trauma."

Other speakers include Rabbi Moshe Hauer, the Executive Vice President of Orthodox Union, and Stacy Burdett, an independent consultant in antisemitism prevention and response.

New York Bolsters Counterterrorism Efforts Amid Rise in Antisemitism

Additional state police officers will be deployed across New York amid a "rising tide of hate and antisemitism," Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday.

In October, the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force reported a 214% spike in anti-Jewish incidents, according to the governor's office.

"The rising tide of hate & antisemitism poses a clear & present danger to the safety of all New Yorkers," Hochul wrote on X, formerly Twitter Monday.

An additional $2.5 million is being allocated to the New York State Police to deploy ten additional investigators across New York City, Albany, Buffalo and Rochester. The move will create a "force-multiplier" for the Joint Terrorism Task Force, ensuring a State Police presence in all areas and providing extra resources to ensure cases are thoroughly investigated.

Talks have also been ongoing with law enforcement leaders to create a transit safety plan ahead of the busy holiday season.

"We've had regular disruptions now in our transit terminals, including a major incident at Grand Central over the weekend," Hochul said during a Monday briefing. "And as we approach some of the busiest travel days of the year, heading into Thanksgiving, I want to make sure... our commuters will be able to go about their lives freely, without disruption."

Additional state troopers were deployed to synagogues and other places of worship in New York following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. The efforts are a response to a reported increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents amid the war. Anti-Muslim incidents increased from zero to 8 in October, according to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.

Jewish Cemetery in Ohio Vandalized With Swastika Graffiti

An investigation is underway in Brooklyn, Ohio, after nearly two dozen headstones were found spray painted with swastikas at a Jewish cemetery.

Brooklyn Police received reports of the vandalism at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery early Sunday, and found red swastikas painted on 23 tombstones. A group of about 20 people went to the cemetery, located west of Cleveland, and removed the graffiti, according to WJW-TV.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland called the hatred "absolutely sickening."

"It is absolutely sickening that anyone could have so much hate for the Jewish people that they would desecrate a cemetery," the organization wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"This cowardly act to violate the memory of our elders only confirms what we already know: the hatred of the Jewish community here and around the world now is at a level not seen in generations."

Nearly 830 Antisemitic Incidents in US Since War Began– ADL

Antisemitic incidents are up by more than 300% across the U.S. since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, according to Anti-Defamation League (ADL) data released Monday.

The ADL recorded 832 antisemitic incidents across the U.S. between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7, 2023– an average of 28 incidents per day.

Those figures represent a 316% increase from the 200 incidents reported during the same time period last year, the data shows.

"As we have seen repeatedly, when conflict arises in the Middle East, particularly when Israel exercises its right to self-defense, antisemitic incidents increase here in the U.S. and around the world," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said.

"These include violent assaults on pro-Israeli students on college campuses, anti-Israel protests openly expressing support for terrorist organizations, as well as white supremacists distributing antisemitic fliers and banners blaming Jews for the war."

The ADL Center for Antisemitism Research conducted a national survey that found about 70% of Americans agree Jew-hatred is a serious problem in the U.S. and view antisemitism as a "growing problem." The poll was conducted among 1,500 U.S. adults between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Leaders Condemn 'Horrific' Violence Outside Hamas Film Screening

Local leaders are condemning the "horrific" violence that erupted outside of the screening of a film depicting Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian supporters clashed outside of the Museum of Tolerance on Pico Boulevard, where some 200 people reportedly attended the screening of "Bearing Witness." The film shows graphic, unedited footage of the attack, produced by Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and reportedly includes footage shot by members of Hamas.

Officers responded outside of the venue where multiple people appeared to be punched and pepper-sprayed. Videos show supporters shouting "Free Palestine" on one side, and "release the hostages" from the other.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared a video of the fighting, saying, "We cannot allow current worldwide tension to devolve into this unacceptable violence in our city."

ADL California said it was "horrified" by the violence that unfolded outside, calling the hate "blatant antisemitism."

"The level of hatred directed at the Jewish community here and worldwide is unprecedented, horrific and becoming deadly," ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey Abrams said.

Gal Gadot helped facilitate the screening, but was not present. The actress, who was born in Israel, formerly served in the IDF.

More California Cities Ban Remote Public Comments Over Antisemitic "Zoom Bombing"

More and more local governments across California are banning remote public comments during meetings as anonymous callers dial in with a barrage of antisemitic and racist comments.

Sonoma became the latest Bay Area city to be hit with the so-called "zoom bombing." At least 20 callers dialed into the latest Sonoma City Council meeting during public comment, spewing antisemitic and hateful messages, officials told KPIX-TV on Wednesday.

Local governments across the Bay Area have been grappling with hateful tirades, made remotely, during public comment in recent weeks. The issue has prompted many cities to end virtual public comment, including Walnut Creek, Redwood City, Fremont, Concord, San Ramon, among others.

Sonoma does not plan on following suit– rather the council will continue cutting off callers making racist remarks.

"People start going off on us, we're hanging up. Period," Sonoma Mayor Sandra Lowe told KPIX. "Why should we punish people doing the right thing because there are people doing the wrong thing?"

Meanwhile, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors moved to limit virtual public comments through end of 2023.

"We will take a break from virtual comments while we try to figure out a solution to the racism, the antisemitism and the hate that has been spread online by bad actors over the last several weeks," Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Coursey said.

The "zoom bombing" in the Bay Area started weeks before the Israel-Hamas war broke out. El Cerrito is among the cities that opted to stop remote public comment.

"In recent weeks, over 35 California agencies have had their public meetings overcome with antisemitic, racist, and vulgar comments by a group of public speakers participating via Zoom," the city wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The racist messages are also being spread during local government meetings in Southern California. Callers made antisemitic comments during a recent Calabasas City Council meeting, including calls to condemn "the terrible attacks by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza," according to KTLA.

The disruptions prompted the city council to also halt remote public comment.

"Please note the City Council meetings will not be providing Zoom access for the remainder of this year," Calabasas Mayor David Shapiro wrote in a release on Nov. 3. "If you wish to speak at the meeting, either do so in person or provide your written comments."

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Interrupt House Hearing on Antisemitism

Several pro-Palestinian demonstrators interrupted a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, discussing free speech and the rise in antisemitism on college campuses.

Connor Ogrydziak, a recent graduate of the University of Buffalo, was among the scheduled speakers. As he began his testimony, he was repeatedly interrupted by at least six protestors. The first stood up with a sign that read "pro-Palestine does not equal antisemitism," and was escorted out.

Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan then gaveled for the committee to remain in order, and another protestor stood with a sign that read, "Congress silences Palestinians." That protestor shouted against efforts to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib and was also escorted out as she shouted "ceasefire now." This continued at least four more times during Ogrydziak's testimony, with another protester screaming with a sign that read, "Free speech includes Palestinians."

The committee's hearing was titled, "Free Speech on College Campuses," to discuss the "state" of the First Amendment at universities. "The hearing will also examine the rise in antisemitism, anti-Israel sentiment, and violence towards students supporting Israel," according to the committee's page.

Woman Charged After Purposely Crashing Car Into 'Jewish' School

An Indianapolis woman has been officially charged with three felony counts after driving her car into a building that she thought was a Jewish school "on purpose."

Police say Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, crashed her car into the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge on Friday night. There were people inside at the time, including young children, but no injuries were reported.

Almaghtheh believed it was a Jewish school because of the "Hebrew Israelite" symbol on the front of the building, WXIN-TV reports, prompting law enforcement to call the attack a hate crime.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) actually defines the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge as an "extreme and antisemitic sect of the Black Hebrew Israelites."

The woman told police she acted for "her people back in Palestine," and drove into the building "on purpose" amid watching news of the Israel-Hamas war, according to WXIN.

Almaghtheh was officially charged on Wednesday and is expected to appear in court on Nov. 17.

NYU Student Detained for Alleged Assault at Pro-Israeli Sit-In

An NYU student was detained after allegedly assaulting another student at a pro-Israeli sit-in on campus Tuesday afternoon.

The incident reportedly happened at the Bobst Library, where a group of pro-Israeli students gathered and displayed the Israeli flag along with photos of hostages taken by Hamas amid the war.

There, the male student exchanged words with a female student who was participating at the sit-in, NYU's independent student newspaper Washington Square News reported. Video reportedly shows the male student punch the woman, and one witness told the paper he was "spewing antisemitic slurs."

The male student was detained by police.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York / New Jersey called for a full investigation into the incident.

"We're horrified to learn of an alleged assault against a student at NYU University," ADL New York / New Jersey wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

NYU recently increased the presence of its Campus Safety officers– adding 4,000 weekly patrol hours on the Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses. University President Linda Mills made the announcement on Oct. 25, amid growing safety concerns.

"Over the past few weeks our university has been experiencing a great deal of turmoil in response to events affecting our community both near and far," Mills wrote. "We have heard from many of you who are deeply concerned about your safety... There is no place for hate at NYU, including antisemitism and Islamophobia."

Suspect Released in Death of Jewish Man After Protest Clash

Law enforcement released new details in the homicide investigation of a Jewish man who they say died after a clash between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at a rally in Southern California.

Paul Kessler, 69, fell backward and hit his head during the confrontation at a rally in Thousand Oaks on Sunday, police said. He later died.

An autopsy on Monday indicated Kessler died from a blunt force head injury. His death is being investigated as a homicide, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said during a press conference Tuesday.

"It is our understanding that Mr. Kessler, a U.S. citizen who practices the Jewish faith, was at the event supporting Israel," Fryhoff said, adding detectives have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.

A suspect was identified as a 50 year-old from Moorpark, who was "advocating for Palestine" at the protest. Fryhoff said the person in question was cooperative with deputies, detained, and released. No arrests have been made.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said it was "devastated" to learn of Kessler's death.

"We remind you that this is the fourth major antisemitic crime committed in Los Angeles this year alone," the organization said in a statement to Newsweek. "Violence against our people has no place in civilized society. We demand safety. We will not tolerate violence against our community. We will do everything in our power to prevent it."

Brandeis University Bans Students for Justice in Palestine

Brandeis University is no longer recognizing Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on its campus, saying the group "openly supports Hamas."

The private university in Waltham, Massachusetts, informed the group of the decision Monday, saying it was not "made lightly."

The move means the SJP chapter would be derecognized at Brandeis, no longer receive funding, no longer be permitted to conduct campus events nor use the Brandeis name, according to a letter obtained by the Jewish Insider.

Brandeis Students for Justice in Palestine canceled its Monday vigil, saying the chapter has been "unjustly de-charted."

"With heavy hearts, we would like to announce that our chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine has been unjustly de-charted," the Brandeis SJP wrote on its Instagram Monday. "This comes as a part of Brandeis University, an institution that values social justice, trying to silence us from speaking our truth. We thank everyone who stood by us during this beautiful journey, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you need any kind of support."

The announcement comes as colleges face growing scrutiny to address a rise in hate crimes, threats and discrimination on campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war. Brandeis President Ron Liebowitz said higher education leaders must find their "moral compass."

"Leaders at colleges & universities must find their moral compass & no longer allow speech that constitutes harassment or threat of violence to flourish on our campuses," Liebowitz said, in a partial quote posted on the university's X page, formerly Twitter, on Monday. "The logic of antisemitism is that left unchecked, it corrodes even the most basic moral standards that stand in its way."

Federal Funds at Risk for Schools Failing to Address Antisemitism, Islamophobia

The Department of Education is reminding schools of their legal obligation to provide all students with an environment "free from discrimination" under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964– and failing to do so could result in a loss of federal funding.

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent a letter to colleges and schools early Tuesday, in response to a nationwide rise in reports of hate crimes and harassment on campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The letter specifies the legal responsibility for schools to address incidents of discrimination against all students, including those who are Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian.

"It is your legal obligation under Title VI to address prohibited discrimination against students and others on your campus—including those who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian—in the ways described in this letter," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon wrote. "Hate-based discrimination, including based on antisemitism and Islamophobia, among other bases, have no place in our nation's schools."

The Department of Education can withhold federal funds if schools fail to comply.

Please be vigilant in protecting your students' rights under Title VI, understanding that we in OCR are and will be," the letter reads.

More Jewish-Americans Buying Guns for First Time

More members of the Jewish community are buying guns for the first time since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack against Israel, some gun store owners in states including California and Georgia report.

In Southern California, Burbank Ammo and Guns processed about 200 firearms safety certificate tests in October 2023, Fox News reports– compared to 45 last year.

"No one wants to be feeling like they're helpless, especially not in their own home, especially not in their offices or where they go every day," Burbank Ammo and Guns manager Eric Fletcher said on Fox News' The Faulkner Focus Friday.

A gun store shop in Georgia reports a similar trend among Jewish-Americans, saying there's been a 30% increase in sales amid the war.

"We are seeing Jewish customers buying their first guns," Tood Whiddon, assistant manager with Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Georgia, told WAGA-TV. "Overall, we're seeing about a 30-percent increase in business."

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recorded 312 antisemitic incidents nationwide between Oct. 7 though 23, the organization's data shows; 190 of which were directly linked to the war in Israel and Gaza. For perspective, ADL recorded 64 incidents for the same time period in 2022.

George Norcross Removed from Eagles Game Over Israel Flag

New Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross is considering legal action after he says he was "forcibly removed" from a Philadelphia Eagles game for displaying an Israeli flag.

Videos show a combined American and Israeli flag draped in front of a private box at Lincoln Financial Field, where Norcross was watching Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Security approached Norcross, who is a businessman and Democratic Party broker, escorted him from his seat, and removed the flags.

"Yesterday, I was forcibly removed and assaulted by the non-police security staff of Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles/NFL for refusing to remove a 3′ x5′ American and Israeli flag I'd hung off the box I was sitting in," Norcross told the New Jersey Globe.

"As a longtime passionate fan and season ticket holder, I have watched the Eagles/NFL make clear and strong statements on numerous important civil justice issues and ethnic and world conflicts, including supporting the people of Ukraine, so as a strong supporter of Israel – a country which was viciously attacked by the terrorist group Hamas less than a month ago – I thought it was an important statement to make," he told the outlet.

Lincoln Financial Field does not permit non-event related signs or banners and reserves the right to confiscate signs that are in violation of the policy, the stadium's guidelines read. The 67-year-old says he is now considering suing the Philadelphia Eagles and the National Football League (NFL).

"But as I consider whether to file suit against the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL and the security company which yanked me out of the box and paraded me in front of thousands of fans, I urge other supporters of Israel to make their feelings known to the team and the NFL just as they have to universities like Penn and Harvard," the told the Globe.

Read more from Newsweek's Shannon Power below.

UMass Student Arrested for Allegedly Punching Jewish Student

Police will maintain an increased security presence at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst after a student allegedly punched a Jewish student at a campus event.

The incident reportedly happened after UMass Hillel held a walk and gathering Friday, calling for the return of the hostages being held by Hamas and a safe campus climate for all students.

Towards the end of the event, a student "approached the gathering and walked through the crowd, aggressively giving people the middle finger," UMass Hillel reported. That student later returned and allegedly punched a Jewish student holding an Israeli flag then spit on the flag. Police arrested the student.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New England called the alleged assault the "latest proof that Jewish students are under attack."

"That this occurred on the Jewish Sabbath, immediately following a peaceful gathering held by UMass Amherst Hillel calling for the return of the nearly 300 hostages held by Hamas, is an example of the disturbing reality for Jewish students on campus right now," ADL New England Regional Director Jonah Steinberg wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

While there is no indication of any "ongoing security threat," UMass Hillel encourages students to walk in groups at night and not engage in counterprotest activities.

"We know this incident is disturbing to many of us, particularly during a time when tensions, emotion and concern are heightened on our campus," UMass Hillel wrote in a Sunday update. "But we must not let the most extreme voices and actions create undue fear or dominate the campus climate."

The organization will provide additional resources for students in the coming days.

Free Legal Help for Jewish Students Facing Antisemitism

Several law firms and leading Jewish organizations are launching a free legal protection helpline for students who have experienced antisemitism amid what the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) calls a "critical moment" for the Jewish community.

Hillel International, the ADL, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP announced the new effort Monday, following weeks of heightened tensions on college campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war.

"Alongside building flourishing Jewish campus communities and educating university presidents and leadership, this is an important tool for reducing campus antisemitism," Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman said.

Hillel International conducted a survey among Jewish college on Oct. 18 and 19 and found about 56% felt scared on campus. One in four students also said there has been violence or acts of hate on their campus since the war began, the survey found.

"We don't need a cancel culture on campus... we need a consequences culture," ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said. "No longer will anyone be able to harass Jewish students with impunity, and no longer will a university or school be able to just look the other way."

How the helpline works:

Any student, family, faculty or staff member can go to the CALL website or text "CALLhelp" to 51555 to report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism, or violence that may necessitate legal action, ADL wrote in a Monday release.

"Lawyers will assess reports of antisemitic discrimination and hate, conduct in-depth information-gathering interviews, and provide pro bono representation for victims who choose to move forward with specific cases," the statement reads. "CALL will also provide referrals to social services, mental health counseling services, and other relevant support services in their area."

Jewish Fraternity Increases Security Across US Chapters

A Jewish fraternity is increasing security measures across its chapters in the U.S., amid an "astronomical" rise in antisemitism on college campuses.

Rob Derdiger, the CEO of AEPI national organization, told Newsweek those measures include changing locks at homes. The organization operates across 153 college campuses, mostly in North America.

AEPI homes owned by university housing follow the institution's safety guidelines, he explained; however, homes that are owned by the national organization take their own approach.

"Those that we own, we've certainly been hardening the targets over time and we continue to and we've ramped it up over the last couple of weeks and we'll continue to ramp that up," Derdiger said. "As far as all of the basics, security cameras and door locks and making sure that we're doing all the physical upgrades that harden targets."

Read more on this story from Newsweek's Matthew Impelli below.

Headstones Vandalized With Swastikas, Racial Slurs in Illinois

Law enforcement officials arrested a man for spray-painting headstones with swastikas and racist messages in Champaign, Illinois.

Dominic Koca, 18, confessed to defacing headstones at St. Mary's Cemetery, saying his motive was racially driven.

Police found nine gravesites defaced on Wednesday; some with swastikas, others with messages including "kill all Jews" and "kill all black," WICS-TV reported.

Koca was arrested and is facing hate crime and vandalism charges.

"Hate crimes have no place here in Champaign County," Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said in a release. "And if a person commits a criminal offense with motivation based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin or sexual orientation of another individual or group of individuals, they will be held accountable for their actions."

"Free Palestine" Rally During World Series Prompts "Horrified" Criticism

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) campaign group against antisemitism and hate said it was "horrified" by "blatant propaganda" shared at a large "Free Palestine" rally in downtown Phoenix during Game 5 of the World Series this week.

The crowd held signs and chanted near the Phoenix Convention Center on Wednesday evening, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

"We need to spread awareness to as many people as possible, and take advantage of the spotlight that is being brought to our city," Arizona Rally for Palestine wrote on its Instagram, referring to the World Series.

Organizers are calling for elected officials to push for a ceasefire and stop funding Israel.

"There's been a very public outcry from the public — but our politicians continue to support this genocide," Tatayana Webb told The Arizona Republic.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said it was "horrified" by the "blatant propaganda" that was shared.

"The misinformation being spread about Israel is not only factually incorrect, it is inflammatory and dangerous," ADL wrote in X, formerly Twitter.

Antisemitic Flyers Distributed in Wisconsin Town

A group of people handed out antisemitic pamphlets throughout a neighborhood in Wausau, Wisconsin on Halloween night, according to local reports.

Multiple residents reported seeing the group wearing traditional Hasidic clothing and "grotesque" masks, according to WSAW-TV. The group, believed to be adults, was spotted in a neighborhood in the southeast part of town.

Parents said the group handed out leaflets to some children.

"Their hate does not belong in this neighborhood," resident Kathryn Ruland told WSAW-TV. "It was also extremely upsetting because I had my son with me. I had my autistic son, who loves this neighborhood."

There have been several reports of antisemitic propaganda circulating in Wisconsin this year alone.

In May, antisemitic flyers with hateful and offensive claims were placed on porches in Wausau neighborhoods. Further south in Sussex, neighbors woke up to anti-Semitic fliers in their driveways in August.

Top Law Firms Warn Colleges to Address Antisemitism

Some of the nation's most elite law firms are warning law schools to crack down on discrimination and harassment on campus amid a surge in antisemitic hate crimes.

"Over the last several weeks, we have been alarmed at reports of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism and assaults on college campuses, including rallies calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the State of Israel," the letter sent by 24 prominent law firms reads. "Such anti-Semitic activities would not be tolerated at any of our firms."

Last month, Davis Polk & Wardwell– one of the firms who signed the letter– rescinded job offers to three law students who expressed support for the Palestinian people and blamed Israel for Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

"The views expressed in certain of the statements signed by law school student organizations in recent days are in direct contravention of our firm's value system," Davis Polk said in a statement provided to Newsweek.

In this recent letter, dated Nov. 1., the firms warn school deans that campus activities related to the issue may impact hiring prospective students in the future.

"As employers who recruit from each of your law schools, we look to you to ensure your students who hope to join our firms after graduation are prepared to be an active part of workplace communities that have zero tolerance policies for any form of discrimination or harassment, much less the kind that has been taking place on some law school campuses," the letter continues. The letter did not specify recipients.

The firms added there is also "no room" for Islamophobia, racism or any other form of violence, hatred or bigotry "on your campuses, in our workplaces or our communities."

The letter was signed by the following law firms:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Debevoise & Plimpton; Kirkland & Ellis; Latham & Watkins; McDermott Will & Emery, Milbank; Mintz, Levin Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; O'Melveny & Myers; Paul Hastings; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Proskauer Rose; Ropes & Gray; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Sullivan & Cromwell; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Weil, Gotshal & Manges; and Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

Cornell Cancels Classes due to 'Extraordinary Stress' from Antisemitic Threats

Cornell University is canceling classes on Friday due to "extraordinary stress" amid weeks of increased tensions on campus because of the war between Israel and Hamas.

University officials announced the cancellation on the same day that Cornell student Patrick Dai appeared in federal court on charges of making violent antisemitic threats against the school's Jewish community.

"No classes will be held, and faculty and staff will be excused from work, except for employees who provide essential services," the email to Ithaca and Geneva campus community members said, according to school newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun.

Instead of classes, Friday will serve as a "community day," university officials Michael Kotlikoff and Christine Lovely wrote in the email. Some professors have been offering students the option to attend class via Zoom over the past few days.

"We hope that everyone will use this restorative time to take care of yourselves and reflect on how we can nurture the kind of caring, mutually supportive community that we all value," the email said.

Dai, 21, is accused of posting a series of messages online over the weekend, threatening to kill or injure another using interstate communications, federal prosecutors said. Dai waived his right to a bail hearing during his first court appearance Wednesday in Syracuse. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 15, according to federal officials.

Alumni Slam Harvard for Failing To Protect Jewish Students

Five Harvard Business School alumni, including U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney and billionaire hedge fund manager Seth Klarman, have accused Harvard leadership of failing to protect its Jewish students from pro-Palestinian groups, calling their silence over the matter "astounding and frightening."

In an open letter to President Claudine Gay and other school leaders, the alumni called on Harvard to "restate and enforce" the existing moral code of conduct required of everyone on campus.

"The threatening, violent protests by pro-Palestinian groups on Harvard campuses become more heinous with each passing day," the letter reads in part.

"Jewish students have locked themselves in dorm rooms across your campuses afraid for their own safety," it continues. "Despite these serious concerns, University leadership shockingly has been paralyzed."

The letter also urges leadership to tighten protocol surrounding protests, including only permitting scheduled demonstrations and participants must be enrolled students. It has been signed by 2,456 alumni, as of Thursday morning.

The university faced backlash earlier this month after the school's undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee published a statement that said they "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence".

On Oct. 27, President Gay announced a new advisory group to combat antisemitism on campus.

"I want to acknowledge the profound toll this has taken, especially on our Jewish students, faculty, and staff," Gay said at Friday's Harvard Hillel Shabbat Dinner. "Your grief, fear, and anger are heard and felt deeply."

'Death 2 Jews' and 'Free Gaza' Written on Las Vegas Wall

With reports of an upsurge in antisemitic incidents in the United States amid the war between Israel and Hamas, threatening messages against Jews and in support of Gaza were sprayed on a Las Vegas wall on Wednesday.

The graffiti reads "Death 2 Jews" and "Free Gaza." Police are investigating and the city has since covered the tagging, according to local reports.

Last week, a Las Vegas man was arrested and charged with leaving antisemitic and profanity-laced voicemails at the office of Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen.

John Anthony Miller, 43, is accused of leaving several messages between Oct. 11 through Oct. 19. One voicemail said "we're gonna finish what Hitler started," according to the complaint.

"On October 17, 2023, Miller threatened to assault, kidnap, or murder the United States Senator with intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the United States Senator while engaged in the performance of official duties, or with intent to retaliate against the United States Senator on account of the performance of official duties," the U.S. Attorney's Office release reads.

Miller then went to a courthouse in Las Vegas on Oct. 18, saying he was going to see the senator, authorities said. He was denied entry after failing to cooperate with an officer and began shouting profanities.

Antisemitic Comments Spewed at Duluth Council Meeting

A city council meeting in Duluth, Minnesota, was targeted by anonymous callers spewing antisemitic and racist "garbage", a city councilor said.

Three speakers called in virtually during public comment and spoke on Monday night, councilor Noah Hobbs explained, calling the incidents "really creepy and disgusting."

"How anyone can have so much hate in their heart is incredibly disturbing, but clearly it is out there," Hobbs wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "I feel sorry for anyone who had tuned in and had to hear this individuals vile comments."

Those who called in used fake names and their faces were not shown, Northern News Now reported. The council is now considering making changes to this public comment protocol, which was introduced during the pandemic.

Councilor Arik Forsman also spoke against the incident on X.

"I'd like to think it was just an isolated incident but it was disheartening," Forsman wrote in part. "Absolutely condemn this trash."

Swastikas and "Free Palestine" Graffiti Sprayed in Montauk

Police are searching for whoever spray painted swastikas and "Free Palestine" in a graffiti attack in Montauk on New York's Long Island this week.

The messages were found at several locations across town Monday, including health food store Naturally Good Foods and food trucks near Ditch Plains Beach.

"Detectives will thoroughly investigate this horrible crime," East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo told The East Hampton Star.

Also on Long Island, more such graffiti was reportedly found spray painted on cars. "Hitler" was written on one vehicle and the word f*** was written on a vehicle in what the person who posted the images described as an attempt to intimidate the Jewish community.

The Anti-Defamation League of New York/New Jersey said it was "horrified" by the incident.

"All Americans should be outraged BY THIS apparent attempt to intimidate," ADL New York/New Jersey wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Cornell Student Patrick Dai in Court Over Threats to Rape and Kill Jews

In the latest sign of inflamed tensions on U.S. campuses amid the war between Israel and Hamas, 21-year-old Cornell University junior Patrick Dai has been charged with making violent threats against Jews and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday.

Dai was arrested Tuesday on a federal criminal complaint, "charging him with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Dai allegedly posted messages on the Cornell section of an online discussion site, threatening to "bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig jews," federal authorities wrote.

He's also accused of posting threats to rape Jewish women as well as graphic, violent death threats towards Jewish men and to behead babies, the U.S. Attorney's Office added. Other messages specifically targeted "104 west," a campus dining hall that caters to Kosher diets.

"We remain shocked by and condemn these horrific, antisemitic threats and believe they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Vice President for Cornell University Relations Joel Malina wrote in a Tuesday statement. "We know that our campus community will continue to support one another in the days ahead."

If found guilty, Dai faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is expected to make his initial appearance Wednesday in Syracuse.

Cornell Student Arrested and Charged for Antisemitic Threats

A Cornell student has been arrested and charged in connection to a series of violent threats made against the school's Jewish community over the weekend, the university announced Tuesday night.

The threats were made online Sunday, specifically naming 104 West, the home of the Center for Jewish Living on campus.

"Cornell University is grateful to the FBI for working so swiftly to identify and apprehend the suspect in this case, a Cornell student, who remains in custody," the university wrote in a release.

"We remain shocked by and condemn these horrific, antisemitic threats and believe they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We know that our campus community will continue to support one another in the days ahead."

Police will maintain its heightened security presence on campus at this time.

NY to Expand Social Media Monitoring, Review CUNY's Antisemitism Policies

The state of New York will allocate millions of dollars toward public safety efforts and review antisemitism policies at the City University of New York (CUNY) amid a "surge" in hate and bias incidents following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

The plan includes $50 million for local law enforcement to prevent and solve hate crimes. The funding will be allocated toward technology and equipment to modernize law enforcement operations and more effectively solve and prevent crimes.

The New York State Police's social media analysis unit will also be expanded, and $25 million will be available for security funding for at-risk community groups and cultural centers.

"I reaffirm that there is zero tolerance in New York for antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate of any kind, and it's critical we deploy every possible state resource to keep New Yorkers safe," Hochul said.

The governor also addressed "growing" antisemitism on college campuses.

"The problem didn't begin with the weeks following the Oct. 7 attacks," she said. "It's been growing on a number of campuses and seen most acutely in the City University of New York."

At Hochul's request, Judge Jonathan Lippman will conduct an independent third-party review of CUNY's policies related to antisemitism and discrimination. CUNY has 25 campuses and is the nation's largest urban public university system.

"My focus has always been first and foremost on fairness and equal justice," Lippman said in a statement. "That same sense of fairness, and freedom from intimidation, for Jewish students and all others in CUNY's academic community, will be at the center of my review."

His recommendations will serve as a "roadmap" for institutions across the state, Hochul said. CUNY said it would cooperate with the review.

"As an institution of higher learning and one of the country's most diverse universities, CUNY has taken many steps to combat hate, discrimination and intolerance in all forms, important work which we continue every day," CUNY's statement reads, according to Newsday. "We will cooperate with Judge Lippman's review as we work to build on the progress we've made."

Social media efforts:

Police across the state have increased social media monitoring amid the conflict, Hochul said Monday, after meeting with Cornell students regarding a series of violent threats made against the school's Jewish community.

Under this new plan, the New York State Police are to use social media to assist in identifying "credible criminal" activity in the state. Given the overwhelming amount of information, the plan includes an additional $700,000 to enhance the Social Media Analysis Unit at the NYSIC. The funding will staff a team of analysts to perform daily analysis of publicly available social media activity.

Homeland Security Working With Schools, Places of Worship

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working with school campuses and faith communities across the country to bolster safety amid a rise in antisemitism since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

"In the days and weeks since [Oct. 7], we have responded to an increase in threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab-American communities and institutions across our country," Mayorkas told a Senate committee on Tuesday.

"Hate directed at Jewish students, communities and institutions add to a pre-existing increase in the level of antisemitism in the United States and around the world," he said.

The department is taking a number of steps aimed at increasing security, including:

• Providing information and intelligence to state, local and campus law enforcement partners.
• Distributing funding through a non-profit security grant program to further secure places of worship.
• Engaging "extensively" with faith communities to ensure worshipers can continue to practice their faith safety. Mayorkas underscored this effort applies to all faiths.

Person Suspected of Threatening Cornell's Jewish Community in Custody

A person of interest in connection to a series of antisemitic threats against the Jewish community at Cornell University is now in custody, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

"Earlier today, law enforcement identified a person of interest as part of the investigation and this individual is currently in the custody of the New York State Police," Hochul said. The person is now being questioned.

The development comes two days after a series of violent messages were posted online, directed at the school's Jewish community and specifically naming 104 West — the home of the Center for Jewish Living.

Cornell confirmed the news, saying in a statement, "we thank the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for their coordination."

FBI Warns Congress of Heightened Threats in US

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has raised the "threat of an attack against Americans" to a "whole 'nother level," FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Congress Tuesday.

"Our most immediate concern is that violent extremists — individuals or small groups — will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives," Wray told the Senate's Homeland Security Committee during a hearing on worldwide threats Tuesday, adding that includes domestic violent extremists targeting Jewish or Muslim communities.

Wray also warned that Hamas' attacks could motivate threats similar to that of ISIS a few year ago.

"We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration, the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago," Wray said. "In just the past few weeks, multiple foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans and the West."

Virginia Rolls Out Plan to Combat Religious Threats

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced an executive directive Tuesday morning, aimed at combating antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry across the state.

Executive Directive Six creates a plan to combat threats against Jewish people and other religious communities by coordinating with educational institutions and law enforcement.

Law enforcement: Youngkin is directing law enforcement to enhance information sharing on potential antisemitic acts through a "specialized situation room," where resources will be coordinated.

Identifying threats: The order calls for the Virginia Fusion Center at the Department of State Police to operate at an elevated state to quickly identify threats against houses of worship and faith-based communities. The directive also calls for expedited grants to organizations facing religious or ethnicity-based persecution.

School safety: In response to a spike in incidents on college campuses, Virginia's colleges and universities are to submit updated safety plans to the Center for School and Campus Safety. There will also be increased collaboration between the Department of Education and all schools over student safety measures.

"Hatred, intolerance, and antisemitism have no place in Virginia," Youngkin said in a statement. "As Governor, the safety and security of all Virginians is my paramount concern. Virginia is the birthplace of the freedom of religion in America, and protecting the community centers and houses of worship of the Jewish people is paramount. But this commitment extends to all religions, including those of the Muslim faith, who are increasingly concerned about backlash."

Jared Kushner: Saudi Arabia 'Safer' for Jews Than US College Campuses

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, suggested that American Jews are "safer" in Saudi Arabia than on US college campuses right now.

Kushner made the comments after returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he spoke at a conference.

"Yeah, so it was a very interesting time to be over there, and I've been there many times before," Kushner said on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures.

"One of the ironies is that as an American Jew, you're safer in Saudi Arabia right now than you are on a college campus like Columbia University."

A group of Columbia students held a press conference Monday, calling out the university's inaction to support students facing antisemitism.

"We got to this point because the Columbia administration, by their inaction, has enabled antisemitic rhetoric to spread and fester on the Columbia campus and throughout the university," Columbia law student Eli Shmidman said, WABC reported.

Monday, the Biden administration announced new steps to bolster support for campus and local law enforcement to increase student safety at colleges. Threats made against Jewish students at Cornell University on Sunday were the latest in a series of incidents in New York universities alone. Police in New York are also increasing monitoring social media as well, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday.

Read more from Newsweek's Thomas Kika below.

Harvard Forms Advisory Group to Combat Antisemitism

Top Harvard officials are working with a newly formed advisory group to combat antisemitism on campus, according to university president Claudine Gay.

Gay made the announcement on Friday, saying, "Antisemitism has a very long and shameful history at Harvard. For years, this University has done too little to confront its continuing presence. No longer."

The advisory group is comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and religious leaders from the Jewish community. Over the coming weeks, the team will work with university leadership to "frame an agenda and strategy" to address the issue.

"They will help us to think expansively and concretely about all the ways that antisemitism shows up on our campus and in our campus culture," Gay said at a Harvard Hillel-hosted Shabbat dinner.

"They will help us to identify all the places — from our orientations and trainings to how we teach — where we can intervene to disrupt and dismantle this ideology, and where we can educate our community so that they can recognize and confront antisemitism wherever they see it."

The university faced backlash earlier this month after the school's undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee published a statement that said they "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence".

Harvard, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania are all facing financial threats and direct cut off from influential donors. Read more from Newsweek's Natalie Venegas below.

NY Police to Increase Campus Security, Social Media Monitoring

New York State Police will continue ramping up security on college campuses, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday morning.

State Police have increased security on campuses since Hamas launched its attack on October 7, Hochul said, adding "security opportunities" will be increased.

"Our Intelligence Center has been beefing up its monitoring of social media as well," she said during a press conference at Cornell University.

Hochul delivered remarks after meeting with a group of Cornell students, one day after antisemitic threats made against a Jewish center on campus. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

"Identifying who made the threats, and holding them accountable because you want to let people know if you're going to engage in these harmful actions, hate crimes, breaking our laws, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," she said.

New York recorded the most reported antisemitic incidents of any state across the nation in 2022, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) data shows. That data was released in March of 2023; a surge of incidents have been reported amid the Israel-Hamas war.

White House to Unveil New Actions to Combat Antisemitism on College Campuses

The Biden administration is set to announce new actions aimed at combatting a recent rise in antisemitism on college campuses.

Under the plan, the Department of Justice and Homeland Security will work with campus police to track hate-related rhetoric online and provide further federal resources to schools.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona will meet with the Conference of Presidents, a leading Jewish organization, to discuss "concrete actions" being taken to ensure student safety on campus, Emhoff said.

"The rise in antisemitic threats of violence against Jewish students in schools and on college campuses is unwarranted and unacceptable," Emhoff posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter.

Gov. Hochul Meets with Cornell Students as 'Hateful' Threats Investigated

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is scheduled to meet with Cornell University students this morning to discuss recent threats made against a campus Jewish center.

The meeting comes one day after a series of threatening messages were posted on a discussion board; Cornell President Martha E. Pollack called the statements "horrendous" and "antisemitic."

The messages threatened "violence to our Jewish community and specifically naming 104 West — the home of the Center for Jewish Living," Pollack said Sunday.

School officials immediately notified police who responded to the center; officials say officers will remain on scene to ensure safety. The Cornell University Police Department sent out a community threat crime alert later Sunday, saying evidence so far suggests the "targeted locations were intentionally selected because of the perpetrator's bias."

"Threats of violence are absolutely intolerable, and we will work to ensure that the person or people who posted them are punished to the full extent of the law," Pollack said. "Our immediate focus is on keeping the community safe; we will continue to prioritize that."

New York State Police is also involved in the investigation. The roundtable discussion with Hochul and students was scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called the threats "absolutely horrific."

"There is no space for antisemitism or violence of any kind," James wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Campuses must remain safe spaces for our students."

Over 300 Detained at Grand Central Protest

Police say more than 300 people were detained after hundreds of protestors filled Grand Central Terminal in New York City, calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The large group of demonstrators gathered inside the terminal's main concourse during rush hour on Friday evening. Many wore black T-shirts with messages including "Jews say cease-fire now" and "Not in our name."

The New York Police Department (NYPD) told Newsweek via email on Saturday that 335 people received criminal court summonses for criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

Jewish Voice for Peace joined the sit-in "as a display of our collective refusal to allow Israel to continue to carry out atrocities against the Palestinians of Gaza in our name," Jay Saper, a member of the advocacy group, told Newsweek.

"I felt compelled to organize this massive civil disobedience... because my Jewish tradition teaches me that life is precious," he said. "We raised our voices together and put our bodies on the line to honor this teaching by calling for an immediate ceasefire to let Gaza live."

Biden Condemns Antisemitism Amid Rise in Incidents

President Joe Biden vowed to continue condemning antisemitism "at every turn."

Biden's issued the statement on the fifth anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh-- where a gunman stormed in and killed 11 worshippers in 2018.

"Deepening the wound, today's remembrance comes on the heels of the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust," Biden said Friday, referring to Hamas' attack on October 7 against Israel.

"This devastating atrocity has brought to the surface painful memories left by millennia of Antisemitism and the genocide of the Jewish people," he contined. "The fear is amplified by the alarming rise of Antisemitism abroad and at home."

Biden said security is "increasing" around centers of Jewish life across the country.

Pro-Palestinian Student Group Deactivated in Florida at DeSantis' Direction

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says a pro-Palestinian student organization has been "deactivated" in the state's university system.

DeSantis ordered state universities to ban Students for Justice in Palestine groups on campuses, saying the group is "part of what Hamas is doing."

"They are a group which publicly says that they don't just stand in solidarity with Hamas, that they are part of what Hamas is doing," DeSantis said during a speech Friday. "That is material support to terrorism and that is not going to be tolerated in the state of Florida."

At DeSantis' direction, state university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues called for university presidents to disband chapters of the organization on Tuesday. "Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement, not in solidarity with this movement," Rodrigues wrote in a letter. "Based on the National SJP's support of terrorism, in consultation with Governor DeSantis, the student chapters must be deactivated."

Home Intruder Charged After Threatening to Kill Family in Studio City

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has opened a hate crime investigation after a man broke into a Studio City home and allegedly threatened to kill a Jewish family.

The family told KTLA that a man broke into their home around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, threatening to kill them. The wife is pregnant and the couple's four children were also home at the time.

The wife recalls the suspect screaming at them, "You are Jewish, you are Israeli... we need to kill Jewish [people]," she told KTLA.

Her husband was able to force the intruder outside, the outlet reported. No injuries were reported.

While being taken into custody, the suspect shouted "Free Palestine," video shows. He was charged Friday with making criminal threats, among other charges, KNBC reports.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles called the incident a "horrific, antisemitic act."

"In the wake of events in Israel, JFedLA's Community Security Initiative (CSI) remains dedicated to safeguarding the LA Jewish community and institutions," the organization posted on X, formerly Twitter.

NYPD to Reconsider Uniform Protocol at Schools After Cooper Union Protest

The New York Police Department will discuss changing its uniform protocol at schools citywide, following what became a tense protest at Cooper Union earlier this week.

A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators banged and chanted outside of a school library where Jewish students were reportedly studying on Wednesday. The students told WCBS that staff locked them inside over safety concerns.

NYPD estimated there were about 20 protestors total. Their officers were on site in plainclothes for the entirety of the planned demonstration, as requested by the college.

"The school [Cooper Union] asked us that we will be in plain clothes," NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said. "And that's a protocol that we're going to change and talk to all the schools city wide about that protocol."

Chell added there were "no direct threats," and "no danger to any students" at the school.

Columbia University Alumnus Threatens to Pull Funding

A Jewish billionaire Columbia University alumnus said he would stop donating to his alma mater for struggling to contain campus tensions over the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Leon Cooperman has criticized students taking part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the continued employment of Joseph Massad, a Modern Arab Politics professor. Massad described Hamas' militant attack on Israel as "awesome."

"The real shame is I've given to Columbia, probably about $50 million over many years," Cooperman told Fox Business earlier this week. "And I'm going to suspend my giving. I'll give my giving to other organizations."

Cooperman graduated from Columbia Business School in 1967 and is the chairman and CEO of investment advisory firm Omega. The university said it is "grateful" to Cooperman's years of generosity and service.

"This is a time of crisis for many members of our community and we are focused on providing the support they need while keeping our campus safe," a university spokesperson told Newsweek.

Read more from Newsweek's Aleks Phillips below.

Three Tulane University Students Assaulted at Protest

At least three Tulane University students were assaulted at an off-campus protest on Thursday.

The protest in New Orleans turned violent after pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with pro-Israel counterprotesters. Several hundreds protestors were reportedly in attendance.

Videos show two men in the back of a pickup truck– one with a Palestinian flag and another ready to burn an Israeli flag. A group of pro-Israel protesters approached the truck, and one of the men swung his flag at the group. A fight then broke out.

"We condemn and are outraged by today's violence and the hateful language and rhetoric we heard," Tulane University President Michael Fitts said. "What started out as a peaceful demonstration unfortunately devolved into a violent incident and a dark day for our community."

Campus police also apprehended a suspect for antisemitic graffiti on a building near campus on Thursday night.

"Symbols and acts of hatred, antisemitism, deliberate provocation and preying upon the fears of others are not part of who we are," Fitts said, calling the day "deeply distressing" for the university.

Antisemitic Incidents Up Nearly 400%

A significant spike in antisemitic incidents has been reported across the U.S. since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7. Incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault increased by 388% compared to the same time last year, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) data shows.

A total of 312 antisemitic incidents were recorded between Oct. 7 and 23, according to the organization's latest data. Of those, 190 were directly linked to the war in Israel and Gaza. Many of these incidents were reported during rallies and on college campuses in New York, California, Michigan and other states.

"When conflict erupts in Israel, antisemitic incidents soon follow in the U.S. and globally," ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a release.

"From white supremacists in California displaying antisemitic banners on highway overpasses to radical anti-Zionists harassing Jewish people because of their real or perceived support for the Jewish state, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in antisemitic activity here while the war rages overseas."

The map below depicts antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel rallies in the U.S. tracked by ADL since Oct. 7; the data is preliminary. Teal circles represent incidents of harrassment, dark blue represents vandalism, green represents anti-Israel rallies with support for terrorism and purple represents anti-Israel rallies. The interactive map can be viewed here.