The recent moves by the Federal government to respond to antisemitism on campus raise many issues. JCRC will not be commenting specifically on actions targeting funding to a university in another state — we will leave that to the leaders of their community. We also will not be commenting on the particulars of the detention of any one individual —certainly one that occurred outside of Massachusetts and of which we are not fully informed about the details.
Knowing that the administration has notified numerous other universities, including several here in Massachusetts, of impending action, I want to share our thinking about the broader concerns here. I do so knowing that these are complex matters, respecting that our community is not of one mind about them, and that the details of specific actions will differ and will be important in informing our understanding.
Our Jewish community — and particularly our students at local colleges and universities — have been greatly impacted and harmed by the broad and widespread increase in antisemitism. While we may disagree about how best to protect Jewish students on campus, we are united in our belief that among our highest responsibilities as a community is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our youth. We welcome urgent, reasonable and concrete efforts to combat the scourge of Jew hatred.
We at JCRC are unambiguously committed to the rule of law and the protection of civil rights and civil liberties – including for those residing in the United States on visas or green cards. Our community cherishes our constitutional protections including the freedom of expression. Due process exists not to shield the wicked from accountability, but to ensure that when justice is served, it is deliberate and appropriate — not just an act of vengeance.
Even the most despicable individuals — those who have harassed, intimidated, and openly terrorized Jewish students — are entitled to legal protections, not because they deserve it, but because those principles safeguard all of us. A commitment to the rule of law is not a defense of their conduct; It is a defense of the constitutional system and protections that are essential for all Americans, including ourselves.
Jewish-Americans have thrived in this country in part thanks to higher education and the opportunities it has afforded to us and others. Those opportunities are severely constrained when leading universities fail to adequately address antisemitic and anti-Zionist actions and activities on their campuses. They must root out this hatred and take all necessary steps to protect and defend their Jewish students and faculties. We need accountability and we recognize the value of certain forms of pressure.
We also know that our universities serve vital functions in our society — to develop and spread knowledge, to conduct research that combats diseases and advances new technologies, and to further the betterment of our society. We are concerned that unnecessary damage may be caused to these institutions and the critical role they play in our society – in the name of combatting antisemitism. We do not support broad, generalized, and arguably politicized funding reductions that are not specifically targeted at fighting antisemitism. When it comes to leveraging research dollars to address societal ills, including the troubling presence of antisemitism in some academic settings — wisdom would suggest using a scalpel-like precision rather than swinging a wrecking ball.
Jeremy Burton
Chief Executive Officer, JCRC of Greater Boston
