Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), along with all other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have urged Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to hold a hearing to address civil rights violations against Jewish students and the increasing support for terrorist ideology on college campuses.

In a joint statement, the senators emphasized the importance of upholding the First Amendment rights of all individuals, stating, “The right to protest peacefully and the right to freely express one’s views—no matter how controversial—are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. These rights are proud American traditions. Violent mobs and the intimidation of individuals because of their faith, however, are not.”

The senators pointed out the alarming trend of anti-Israel activism leading to threats and violence against Jewish students at federally funded universities. They stated, “Jewish students are being actively targeted, harassed, intimidated, threatened, and in some cases assaulted for one reason: their heritage and religion. This is fundamentally un-American. It is also a federal crime. . . . Equally disturbing are the prominent displays of symbols, flags, and slogans of terrorist groups at these campuses.”

Furthermore, the lawmakers expressed their concern over the lack of attention given to these issues, noting that while the Judiciary Committee has addressed various civil rights matters, no hearings have been conducted specifically on the violations of Jewish students’ rights or the spread of terrorist ideology on campuses since the October 7, 2023 attacks.

The senators concluded by calling for immediate action, stating, “Our Committee should examine why more is not being done to protect the civil rights of innocent students across America. We must also examine the threat to national security posed by the proliferation of radical Islamist ideology in the academy. These pressing issues demand our immediate attention.”

The full letter outlining the senators' concerns and call for a hearing can be found on the Senate Judiciary Committee's website.