On the anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has urged action from the Biden-Harris administration and Senate Democrats to safeguard Jewish students facing antisemitism on college campuses. In an op-ed for the Daily Wire, Cassidy expressed disappointment over what he sees as insufficient efforts to address discrimination against Jewish students since last year’s attacks.
Cassidy highlighted that HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has not held hearings on antisemitism despite bipartisan requests. He also noted that several bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Jewish students, including his own Protecting Students on Campus Act, have not been considered by Senate Democrat leaders.
“It is the Senate’s obligation to examine the failures of universities and the Biden-Harris administration to protect Jewish students from discrimination… There are also bills before the HELP Committee to address antisemitism and discrimination against students,” Cassidy stated in his op-ed. He emphasized, “These bills can make a difference, but Democrat leadership in the Senate has refused to consider them.”
Cassidy argued that antisemitism remains a current issue on campuses: “Antisemitism on college campuses is not last year’s problem, it is happening now… Jewish students and their families need real assurance that their schools and the Department of Education will protect them from discrimination and harm.”
The senator called for immediate legislative action with five weeks remaining in this calendar year: “We should use this time to pass the Protecting Students on Campus Act and address the rampant antisemitism on our campuses. The time for action is now.”
Cassidy’s call comes amidst reports of unresolved religious discrimination cases at colleges under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. He criticized both university officials for failing to act against demonstrators and federal authorities for not holding institutions accountable.
