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Leading Jewish teachers have expressed support for UC Berkeley’s prime minister ahead of its appearance on Tuesday before an influential parliamentary committee investigating campus anti-Semitism allegations.
Prime Minister Rich Lyon will join leaders at City University of New York and Georgetown University, Washington. There, they will question them at their latest famous hearing, examining how the university has responded to Palestinian protests and claims of anti-Semish hatred since late 2023.
Berkeley is conducting multiple federal investigations into allegations of violating the civil rights of Jewish students and faculty. The Lions, who became prime minister a year ago, is the first UC leader to stand up to a House committee during Trump’s presidency.
On Monday, members of 82 Jewish Berkeley faculty members sent a letter to a House committee saying that despite “anxiety and sometimes physical threats” to members of the Jewish community in recent years, Bay Area campuses are generally safe for Jews.
“As a Jewish teacher who frequently engages in campus leadership and remains vigilant about the well-being of the Jewish campus community, UC Berkeley rejects claims that it is an anti-Semitic environment,” the letter states. “We write to affirm that we feel safe on campus and support the administration’s efforts to balance safety in terms of safety and freedom of speech.”
The letter was organized by Ken Goldberg, professor of industrial engineering and operational studies, and Ethan Katz, an associate professor in the Department of History and of the Centre for Jewish Studies. Signatories included some of the campus’ most well-known scholars, including Elwin Kemerinsky, the dean of the Berkeley Law School and the first amendment expert.
Separately, the UC Union and the Teachers Association issued a joint statement Monday denounced the hearing as an attempt by Trump administration allies to “restrict freedom of speech.”
“The hearing is the latest in a series of attacks that are part of the MAGA agenda to reimburse higher education and limit freedom of speech on campuses across the country,” a statement from the University of California Federation of Teachers (UC-fed) and the University of California Council of Councils said. UC-Faft represents 6,800 lecturers, part-time faculty and librarians throughout the university system.
“The Trump administration ironically targets higher education at all levels. The freedom to teach, write and study by both teachers and students is the foundation of the American university system and must be advocated,” the statement said.
Pro-Palestinian faculty at the university that is being held for the hearing also issued a statement Tuesday.
“These congressional hearings are not about actually addressing anti-Semitism in higher education, but rather their agenda is to lead the higher education sector to the heels,” said a statement signed for the judiciary of Georgetown, Palestinian groups in Berkeley, California, and Palestinian groups in George Tarttown, the George Tarttown American countries. of Jewish Voices for University Professors and the Council of Peace Academic Council.
They urged university leaders to “oppose the weaponization of anti-Semitism through the equation of security for Jews, except for the silence and exclusion of those who speak for Palestinian freedom and the end of genocide.”
In a statement, committee chairperson Tim Wahlberg (R-Mich.) said the hearing will focus on “the fundamental factors that incite anti-Semitism turbulence and hatred on campus.”
“Anti-Semitism will last on university campuses until these factors, such as foreign funding and anti-Semitism students and faculty groups, are addressed,” Wahlberg said.
Wahlberg did not identify the group or foreign funds. Republicans have previously criticized the university for allowing faculty and student organizations, including Palestinian students, who organized Palestinian presidency camps.
Trump and his Republican allies also widely accused the campus of not being affected by foreign funding, while Harvard and Berkeley of not following US laws requiring educational institutions to disclose gifts of more than $250,000 each year. These accusations focus on the relationship between the Chinese government and the university with the Chinese organization.
Harvard and Berkeley said they would follow the law.
Prior to the hearing, a UC Berkeley spokesperson defended the university’s actions on anti-Semitism.
Berkeley “is working to combat anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred, and is taking meaningful actions to achieve this,” said Danmoglov, Deputy Prime Minister of Executive Communication. “Prime Minister Lions looks forward to testifying before the committee to share how the campus is investing and continues to invest in resources and programs designed to prevent and address anti-Semitism on the Berkeley campus.”
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