Free Speech & the Israel-Palestine Crisis

No one should be punished for exercising their free speech rights. Suppressing speech will not make us, our organizations, or our college campuses safer.

I stand against censorship, hate, and efforts to prevent any individuals or groups from participating in our democratic society—including those speaking out for Palestinian people.

I agree with those who have argued that some university leaders failed to adequately respond to Hamas's Oct. 7 attacks, and I also agree that some faculty members promoted antisemitism and justified terrorism. As a Jewish person with family in Israel, these are very serious concerns for me.

I believe my colleagues and I in DEI have work to do to meaningfully address antisemitism. However, scapegoating DEI or students protesting for for the very real global threat that Jewish people face is deeply cynical, disingenuous, and dangerous.

❓Are you interested in bringing these timely conversations to your team, organization, or classroom? Contact me and let’s work together to integrate issues of anti-Jewish bias into your DEI efforts... because creating inclusive cultures matters more than ever.

#dei #deib #justice #inclusion #antisemitism #israel #palestine #freespeech #highereducation #AcademicFreedom #DifficultConversations #workplace

Image credit: Berkeley Political Review https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2018/03/03/money-talks-the-cost-of-free-speech-on-campus/