WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter calling on the Biden administration to address rising rates of antisemitism directed at Jewish and Israeli students in K-12 schools since the Hamas-led massacre against Israel on October 7, 2023. In the letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the senators requested the U.S. Department of Education enforce the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and ensure students are not subjected to discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
Less than half of Gen Z and millennials believe the U.S. should publicly voice support of Israel compared with 63 percent of Gen X, 83 percent of baby boomers, and 86 percent of members of the Silent Generation. Over half of voters under the age of 35 do not support sending weapons and military equipment to Israel in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks, compared with 77 percent of those 50 and over. The letter states the rise “…in antisemitic incidents is a symptom of growing antisemitism amongst our nation’s young people who are a product of our K-12 education system.”
“As children continue to grapple with the aftermath of this violence, incidents of antisemitic violence are picking up in our K-12 schools. Antisemitism in high schools is uniquely concerning as teenagers are particularly impressionable, deeply affected by the social dynamics of their peers and by the authority of their teachers,” the senators wrote. “Young students are still developing emotionally and are less equipped to handle and process incidents of antisemitism, making recent reports all the more concerning.”
“America’s K-12 schools must be a safe learning environment for all students. School officials are supposed to be the adults in the school building. They should be setting an example for our students and ensuring a safe learning environment rather than undermining it,” the senators concluded. “We look forward to an update regarding your efforts on the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign and broader enforcement of Title VI to ensure the Department and K-12 schools receiving Federal funds protect Jewish students in the same capacity as other legally-protected classes.”
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) led the letter. Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Click here for the letter.