Gov. Maura Healey is little question hopeful when she claims that there isn’t a room for antisemitism in Massachusetts.
However there seems to be loads of room for such hate within the public college system.
That, no less than, is the under-reported conclusion of the Particular Fee on Combatting Antisemitism for Okay-12 Schooling in Massachusetts.
Healey made her earlier feedback in response to a pro-Palestinian heckler who accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. Healey was on GBH radio defending the launch of an Israel-based well being care accelerator agency in Massachusetts.
In a narrative reported by the State Home Information Service, Healey mentioned, “We are able to have agreements and disagreements about coverage points. However on the finish of the day, you realize, let’s keep in mind that there isn’t a place for antisemitism in Massachusetts.”
Shortly after Healey had accomplished her feedback than the fee, in its preliminary working report, coincidentally discovered that antisemitism within the public college system — particularly after the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel — is rising.
Antisemitism within the faculties, the fee discovered, “is a pervasive and escalating downside, with numerous reported incidents of hate, bullying, harassment skilled by households and lecturers.”
“Many Jewish college students in Massachusetts faculties are scared to publicly show their Judaism or let different is aware of they’re Jewish for concern of disparate remedy or bullying.”
It mentioned, “Antisemitic hate crimes in Massachusetts are rising — by over 20 per cent in 2024 alone — on the identical time total violent crime is lowering in Massachusetts.” And most of the antisemitic crimes will not be reported out of concern of retaliation.
It mentioned that the varied type of antisemitism consists of “swastika graffiti, Holocaust jokes or denial, harassment or discrimination primarily based on perceived relationship to Israel or precise Israeli citizenship, and harassment directed in direction of Jewish people whereas utilizing the time period ‘Zionist’ as a alternative slur.”
So, whereas Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Healey can brag about how secure Boston and the state are, issues will not be so comfy or secure for Jewish People within the public college system.
And there’s no assist in combating antisemitism from the Massachusetts Academics Affiliation, based on the report. The other is true.
In truth, the fee, which is headed by state Sen. John Velis of Westfield and Rep Simon Cataldo of Harmony, reported that the MTA contributed to the issue by exposing college students “to content material and curriculum that incorporates inaccurate, decontextualized and dangerous materials round Israel and the Jewish individuals.”
It mentioned that “related problematic content material and sources have been endorsed or promoted via the Massachusetts Academics Affiliation.”
Whereas the fee is to be lauded for exposing antisemitism within the public college system, its suggestions fall far wanting fixing it.
Somewhat than suspending or throwing antisemite college students harassing Jewish college students out of the varsity, or firing antisemitic lecturers, the fee, sounding like Healey, really useful that “College officers ought to make robust, clear statements that antisemitism is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.”
Besides when it’s.
Nonetheless, as State Home legislative commissions go, the Velis/Cataldo fee has completed good work, contemplating it may have ended up like so many previous commissions.
As an illustration, the legislative fee to switch the “discriminatory” Commonwealth’s state seal was established 5 years in the past and has but to give you a design.
So, we’ll take what we are able to get.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas may be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
