Washington – New federal Guidelines to Fight Bullying of Jewish Students

    7

    Washington – The US federal government has adopted measures to fight bullying of Jewish students on campuses. New federal guidelines enacted by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are to increase the protection of Jewish students from anti-Semitism.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Duncan issued a letter on Tuesday that in effect applies Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the protection of Jewish students from anti-Semitism on campuses.

    Under the new US Department of Education guidelines, the new Civil Rights Act can be invoked if anti-Jewish behavior is considered to be based on shared ethnic characteristics.

    Title VI prohibits discrimination based on “race, color or national origin”, but does not include religion. Two Democratic Congressmen, Rep. Brad Sherman and Sen. Arlen Specter, last month introduced a bill that would amend the Civil Rights Actto also include religion.

    In a statement following the release of the guidelines, Sherman declared: “The policy is now clear: colleges and universities will no longer be permitted to turn a blind eye when Jewish students face severe and persistent anti-Semitic hostility on their campuses. The schools will now be compelled to respond.”

    The Department of Education also announced that it would use Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to protect students with disabilities from harassment on campus.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    7 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Peter
    Peter
    13 years ago

    It’s about time. Great work by Sherman and Specter.

    13 years ago

    What about Jewish kids that are bullied by other Jewish kids. It happens every day in our Yeshivas.

    Grumpy
    Grumpy
    13 years ago

    Though I won’t write his name (I posted this because the information is interesting, not to promote a political campaign), one of the Republican candidates running for Congress posted a good description of what the real issue is this on his website:

    Equal Civil-Rights Protection for Pro-Israel University Students

    I am deeply concerned about rising reports of American university students being ridiculed, subjected to punitive grade reductions, harassment, and threats of physic harm by certain professors and students, simply for expressing pro-Israel views on campus. These reports also describe arbitrary denial of requests to organize pro-Israel student events, and weak or non-existent disciplinary action against vicious, menacing protesters who actively humiliate or stifle dignitaries and lecturers. As a member of Congress, I will end such practices through awareness; holding university leaders accountable; and, if necessary, direct legislation to ensure all students, pro-Israel and otherwise, the same rights and protections guaranteed to all racial and ethnic minorities.

    13 years ago

    I agree with #2 . Jewish bullies are just as bad as their gentile counterparts. Not only does that type of bullying occur at Yeshivas, but it also occurs at cheders, or afternoon Hebrew schools. it also occurs at public schools.

    kollelfaker
    kollelfaker
    13 years ago

    until we educate our sons on how to defend themselves thgey will always be attacked when did turn the ckeck a christian concept become the rule for us mosher david salomom were fighters not cowards give your children self confidence and teach them it wrong to fight but if attacked heck yeah defend your self no one else will
    when hit back bully’s back off they only go after those that will not stand up for them selves

    TorasMosheEmess
    TorasMosheEmess
    13 years ago

    to #2 and #4 :

    The federal government has no power on the issue of bullying, per se. That is an issue for states governments and individual institutions. The civil rights act can be invoked if a) the institutions receive federal money and b) they permit what is commonly referred to as a “hostile environment” to groups or individuals on the basis of their “race, color, or national origin.” which is sufficient to permit legal action.

    In other words, if and only if it can be shown that the harassment is “based on shared ethnic characteristics” — real or perceived — can an institution be compelled under federal law to act. IY”H, The amendment to the Civil Rights Act proposed by sherman and specter will pass and yidden who are bullied just for being Jews will be protected.

    The problem of yiddishe kinder bullying one another has no bearing whatsoever in either event