The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, introduced to Congress last month, will misclassify criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism, and encourage the Department of Education to investigate critique of Israeli policy as anti-semitic incidents. Kenneth Marcus, who built his career on suing universities in response to criticism of Israel, will now lead the department in charge of investigating such claims [1].

Since 2010, we have seen how Hillel International’s Standards of Partnership has shut down open discourse around Israel in our campus Jewish communities. Now, the same language barring criticism of Israel from Hillel could be written into federal law.

This legislation will have a profound and chilling effect on our college campuses [2]. Universities, out of fear of losing federal funding, will be encouraged to preemptively suppress student and academic voices [3]. As Jewish students, academics, and community members, who value debate and freedom of expression, we must call on the bill's co-sponsors, Senator Bob Casey of PA (D) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler of NY (D) to withdraw their support.