WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is warning U.S. schools and colleges that they must take immediate action to stop antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses, citing an “alarming rise” in threats and harassment.
In a Tuesday letter, the Education Department said there's “renewed urgency” to fight discrimination against students during the Israel-Hamas war.
“Hate-based discrimination, including based on antisemitism and Islamophobia among other bases, have no place in our nation’s schools,” wrote Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the department.
The Education Department offered few specifics on how colleges should respond, and it did little to answer questions about where to draw the line between political speech and harassment.
Last week the Education Department added language to a federal complaint form clarifying that certain forms of antisemitism and Islamophobia are prohibited by federal civil rights law.
Persons:
—, Biden, there's “, “, ”, Catherine E, Lhamon, Miguel Cardona
Organizations:
WASHINGTON, Education Department, Universities, Tulane University, Cornell University, The Education Department, Civil, Department, Associated Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP
Locations:
Israel, Baltimore, Carnegie Corporation of New York