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U.S. Universities Must Stop Tolerating Antisemitism
(New York Post) Alan Dershowitz and Andrew Stein - Columbia University's president and other college administrators have stated that the chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is permissible political speech. It is also permissible for white supremacists to demand all blacks be sent back to Africa and all Muslims to Saudi Arabia. But would any school permit such bigoted chants? Would it take action against such racists? Of course it would. So the issue is not one of abstract free speech. It is whether the school applies the same standard to Jews, blacks, gays and other minorities. What is permissible to say against Jews and Israel would not be permissible to say against blacks or gays. That is the reality. Universities should apply a single standard for free speech and harassment. They cannot punish anti-black racism while tolerating anti-Jewish racism, even if the First Amendment protects both. Alan Dershowitz is Professor of Law, Emeritus at Harvard Law School. Andrew Stein served as New York City Council president.