UPDATED: Schneider: "I Struggle With" Rise in Antisemitism
Congressman Brad Schneider (D-Highland Park)
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One of the two Jewish members of Illinois’ congressional delegation say he is concerned about a rise of antisemitism in the wake of the Hamas attack of Israel and ensuing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Congressman Brad Schneider (D-Highland Park) hosted a roundtable with Jewish college students Monday in suburban Northbrook on anti-Semitism on college campuses.
Schneider says he’s struggled with the rise of antisemitism in society, and on college campuses.
“To see people, especially on college campuses, where these young people are embracing Hamas, cheering Hamas, identifying with Hamas, and thereby identifying with the ideology of Hamas, which is genocidal at their core, what they’re saying is its ok to murder Jews,” Schneider said.
Speaking with The Illinoize following his event with college students, Schneider said groups have the right to free speech and colleges and universities have to be mindful of the line.
“It is difficult because you have lines of free speech with competing groups here,” he said.
But, Schneider said, college administrators have not done enough to protect Jewish students.
“Where these universities have continually struggled, [they’ve] drawn distinctions, created double standards, turned a blind eye, that’s an entirely different situation,” he said. “The universities have to recognize there’s a problem on campus. There are people who are trying to disrupt and cross the next line to intimidate and demonizing and delegitimizing Jewish students on campus, that has to be not only unacceptable, but not tolerated and sanctioned. Students that do that have to face consequences.”
There’s a political divide as well for Democrats. Most mainstream Democrats have continued to show strong support for the Israeli cause and their opposition to Hamas.
But, he says a group of progressive lawmakers, including Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago), have been vocal in their distaste for Israel.
“There has been a small group, Delia Ramirez is a part of it, that have been exceedingly antagonistic toward Israel and, at times, have crossed over into rhetoric that is antisemitic,” Schneider said. “But they are a small number within the party. I think you’ve seen both parties, the overwhelming majority, understand that antisemitism has to be called out wherever it appears in every form that it appears.”
UPDATE: A spokesman for Ramirez responded Tuesday, claiming Schneider is “misrepresenting” her position.
“Attempts to misrepresent calls for long-lasting peace and protection of human lives as antisemitic are quite concerning,” the spokesman said in a statement to The Illinoize." “We must unequivocally stand against all forms of antisemitism, but equating criticism of the Israeli government and demands for peace as antisemitism sets a dangerous precedent.”
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Schneider, who says there is nobody more pro-Israel in Congress than him, but he supports a solution where Palestinians and Israelis live “side-by-side” in peace and prosperity.
But, he says, Palestinians need to recognize Israel’s right to exist and Israelis need to respect Palestine’s desire for a state of it’s own.
“The best way to get to peace today in Gaza is for Hamas to lay down its arms, release the prisoners, and recognize Israel,” he said.
But he recognizes long term, peace is only possible if both sides see humanity in each other.
