Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON - Senators John Kennedy (R-La.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) have introduced a resolution in the Senate to condemn the use of the antisemitic phrase "from the river to the sea" and its variations. The senators argue that the phrase promotes genocide against Jewish people and seeks to annihilate the state of Israel. Kennedy emphasized the importance of condemning such a threat and called for unanimous support for the resolution.

The introduction of this resolution comes in the wake of increasing hate crimes and threats against Jewish Americans, as highlighted by Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, reports of antisemitic incidents in the United States have risen by 337%. The U.S. Education Department is now investigating six college campuses, including Tulane University, due to a surge in discrimination against Jewish students.

Senator Cotton expressed his concern over the use of the phrase, stating, "People who invoke this disgraceful, antisemitic slogan are calling for the mass murder of Jews, whether they know it or not." He pointed to the genocidal intent of the phrase, particularly evident on October 7. Cotton emphasized that no one who uses this phrase should escape condemnation.

Tulane University, where approximately 43% of the student population is Jewish, has experienced firsthand the consequences of the use of this antisemitic slogan. Pro-Palestine activists graffitied the phrase "from the river to the sea" on campus. In addition, three Jewish students were assaulted, with one student suffering a broken nose.

Senator Kennedy addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict and condemned the attacks against Jewish students in Louisiana during a speech on the Senate floor. He highlighted the importance of protecting the rights and safety of all students, regardless of their religious or ethnic background.

The resolution has garnered support from several other senators, including Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Thune (R-N.D.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.).

The resolution, with its full text available here, aims to address and condemn the use of the antisemitic phrase "from the river to the sea" and its derivatives. Senators Kennedy and Cotton, along with their colleagues, hope that this resolution will serve as a strong statement against antisemitism and a call for continued efforts to promote tolerance and respect for all communities.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/press-releases?ID=6265C654-4BD9-448E-86D9-4F0B65D7246B