For Immediate Release

Contact: bowman.press@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The past few weeks, colleges and universities have witnessed a surge in hatred, bigotry, and threats as a direct result of the ongoing war in Israel and Palestine. Congressman Bowman has also cosponsored H.Res. 839, a resolution condemning antisemitism at colleges and universities across the United States and encouraging school leaders to speak out against antisemitism.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (NY-16) released the following statement in response:

“The ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine and the tragic loss of life of Palestinian and Israeli civilians has caused immeasurable trauma and pain for Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim, and Arab people around the world. As we witness these horrific tragedies unfold, we have also seen an increase in incidents involving hate, threats, or harassment here at home, notably including on college campuses across the country. Whether death threats against Palestinian professors at American University or Jewish students at Cornell, each instance of antisemitism or Islamophobia is vile and disgusting. We must condemn hate in all forms.

In this time of collective grief, we must stand together against bigotry, and ensure that schools are safe spaces that affirm and protect the diverse identities of students and educators. We cannot allow our campuses to replicate or perpetuate the violence and trauma in our world. Instead, we must remember that schools can be our greatest hope for healing, where young people have the space and support to process and analyze unfolding events, parse out the truth, and learn to ground their interactions with each other and the world in empathy and humanity. 

We must continue to stand together as we work to stop hatred and to center love and compassion. Our collective humanity and our future depend on it.”

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