November 2, 2023.  

Whereas both Hamas and Hezbollah are recognized by the United States Department of State as Foreign Terrorist Organizations;

Whereas, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack to deliberately target Israeli civilians, including the killing and abduction of men, women, children, and the elderly;

Whereas Hamas’ stated goal is the entire destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of its Jewish citizens;

Whereas a disturbing number of student organizations at institutions of higher education placed blame solely upon the State of Israel for the attack and expressed support for the terrorist actions of Hamas through the glorification of violence and the usage of antisemitic rhetoric;

Whereas on October 9, 2023, the national leadership of Students for Justice in Palestine declared a “day of resistance” calling on student chapters across the United States to demonstrate by “not just slogans and rallies, but armed confrontation with oppressors” and following this announcement many chapters issued pro-Hamas statements;

Whereas on October 10, 2023, a Stanford University lecturer targeted Jewish students during a class on colonialism, justifying the actions of Hamas terrorists by calling them “freedom fighters” and asking Jewish students to identify themselves and stand in the corner to illustrate what “Jews were doing to Palestinians”;

Whereas on October 15, 2023, in a complete disregard for humanity, a Cornell University professor grabbed the microphone at a campus rally and pronounced that, “Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence” and “it was exhilarating. It was energizing…I was exhilarated,” in reference to Hamas’ terror attack on Israel;

Whereas on October 22, 2023, the Brandeis University student government voted down a simple resolution condemning Hamas and calling on the immediate release of all hostages back to their families unharmed;

Whereas on October 24, 2023, George Washington University students at a vigil to support Hamas’ surprise attack prominently projected signs on the walls of the university’s library including, “Glory to our Martyrs”;

Whereas many administrations of institutions of higher education do not follow the practice of institutional neutrality and frequently speak out on public issues, but have failed to speak out clearly after the October 7 attack by Hamas, and have exposed their lack of regard for their Jewish and pro-Israel students; and

Whereas the glorification of violence and usage of antisemitic rhetoric creates a hostile learning and working environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,

Attest:

Clerk.