Pennsylvania Republicans Propose Controversial Anti-Semitic Education Legislation
"I can't believe I'm standing on a podium in 2023 trying to explain this to people," Republican state representative Aaron Kaufer stated during a press conference on Monday, referring to the preliminary proposal.
"But antisemitism is wrong. Calls for genocide against Jews or any other group are wrong and filled with hate," Kaufer continued.
The proposed legislation would require universities receiving state funding to recognize antisemitism as harassment and/or bullying. This issue surfaced last week during a House committee hearing, featuring the former president of the University of Pennsylvania, Liz Magill. The committee discussed the alleged increase in antisemitism on campus following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent conflict.
Magill struggled to offer clear responses when asked if calls for genocide against Jews violated Penn's code of conduct. She, along with the presidents of MIT and Harvard, failed to address the notion that calls for genocide constitute harassment or bullying on campus.
"Calls for genocide on campus are unacceptable and it's unfortunate that the leadership of these elite universities doesn't recognize this as a clear violation," Republican state representative Rob Mercuri commented.
According to a memorandum co-sponsored by the House of Representatives, the package contains two additional bills.
The second bill would "introduce Transparency in Holocaust Education" in public schools, requiring the establishment of benchmarks for teaching the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations.
A third bill would declare November 9 as the "Day of Awareness and Education about Antisemitism" in Pennsylvania.
"Hate has no place in Pennsylvania, whether it's antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, or homophobia," Manuel Bonder, spokesperson for the governor, stated. "We must stand together against it." Josh Shapiro, Democrat.
"The governor acknowledges the bipartisan condemnation of antisemitism and we look forward to reviewing all proposals that contribute to the elimination of hatred," the statement read further.
Democrats, who control the House, did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment on Tuesday.
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The proposed anti-Semitic education legislation in Pennsylvania by House Republicans is part of a broader effort to combat rising antisemitism and Holocaust misinformation. Here are the key details and context:
- House Resolution 22: This resolution, passed by the Pennsylvania House, officially recognizes January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth. It serves as a solemn reminder of the 6 million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust and the need to combat rising antisemitic rhetoric and attacks[4].
- Legislation to Improve Holocaust Education: House Republicans, particularly Rep. Kristin Marcell, are committed to advancing legislation that preserves Holocaust memory and strengthens historical education. Two bills are being introduced:
- Curriculum Transparency Bill: This bill would require school entities offering Holocaust instruction to publicly share their curriculum, providing transparency for parents to have confidence that their children receive accurate historical education[4].
- Statewide Study on Holocaust Curriculum: The second bill, co-prime sponsored by Rep. Jared Solomon, would mandate a statewide study on Holocaust curriculum and instruction every five years to assess how well schools are covering these critical lessons and identify any gaps that need to be addressed[4].
- Context of Antisemitism: The legislation is a response to the alarming rise in antisemitic rhetoric and attacks, which underscores the urgent need to strengthen Holocaust education in schools. Rep. Marcell emphasizes that remembrance must be accompanied by action to combat rising antisemitism and Holocaust misinformation[4].
- Support and Advocacy: Rep. Marcell remains committed to advancing legislation that combats misinformation and ensures accurate historical education. She believes that education is a powerful tool in the fight against antisemitism and all forms of hatred[4].
