Dear John,

The performance of the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT at yesterday’s Congressional hearing was as disastrous as it was disheartening. The time has long passed for empty statements while Jewish students are facing a tsunami of antisemitism on campus, and it is long overdue for universities to enforce their own codes of conduct and for students to face consequences.

While we appreciate the steps that many administrators are taking to make their schools safer for Jewish students, I would still give university leaders an “F” for their failure to protect their Jewish students. If campus presidents are incapable of demonstrating moral leadership, we will use every tool available to us, including Title VI, to protect the safety and civil rights of all Jewish students.

Let’s be crystal clear: there is NO “context” in which calling for the genocide of Jews is okay. These leaders’ lack of moral clarity in response to this line of questioning is shameful. (You can watch a short video clip from the hearings that shows this dismaying exchange here.)

Today, I ask you to take action. Sign this ADL petition to ask university and college presidents: Is calling for the genocide of Jews a violation of your school’s policies?

We firmly believe that college campuses must be arenas for discourse and the free exchange of ideas. However, that does not allow for the incitement of violence and harassment that is occurring too frequently on many campuses right now. How can campus administrators ensure the safety of Jewish students, professors and other on-campus Jewish professionals if threatening and harassing calls for the genocide of Jews is not against each school’s code of conduct?

Please sign this important call for action by campus leaders now, and thank you for speaking out alongside ADL to Fight Hate for Good.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Greenblatt

CEO and National Director

ADL