The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday that it will send a federal task force to combat anti-Semitism, led by civil rights lawyer Leo Terrell, to 10 university campuses to conduct an investigation.
The move is the latest step by the Trump administration to combat campus anti-Semitism that exploded after Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, despite the Biden administration's “strategy” on anti-Semitism.
DOJ I said In a press release:
Members of the Civil Rights Advisor's Key Task Force and Senior Advisor Leo Terrell yesterday informed 10 universities that they are aware of allegations that the school may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from illegal discrimination in a potential violation that could violate federal law. Terrell said the task force is intended to meet with university leadership and to gather information on these cases with students and staff, local law enforcement agencies and community members and consider whether corrective actions are justified.
“The president, Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the entire administration are committed to ensuring that no one should feel safe on campus because of religion,” Terrell said. “The task force's mission is to guide the full power of the federal government into our efforts, particularly in schools, to eradicate anti-Semitism. These visits are just one of the many steps this administration is taking to realize its commitment.”
The ten universities identified by the task force are: Columbia University. George Washington University; Harvard University; Johns Hopkins University. New York University; Northwestern University; University of California, Los Angeles. University of California, Berkeley. University of Minnesota; University of Southern California.
Biden DOJ, including the Civil Rights Division, was largely silent on the issue of anti-Semitism on campus.
A familiar commentator for Fox News, Terrell was appointed to lead the anti-Semitism task force in early February.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News; Breitbart News Sunday Sirius XM Patriot will be available Sundays from 7pm to 10pm (4pm to 7pm). He is the author of Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Daysyou can pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author Trump's Virtue: Lessons and Legacy of President Donald TrumpIt is now available on Audible. He is the winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpollak.
