The prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn is facing accusations of promoting antisemitism with the proposed Israeli boycott, which is set to be discussed and possibly voted on during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The Academic Senate at Pratt Institute plans to discuss the controversial resolution calling for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel. This decision has been met with criticism from the Jewish community, with concerns being raised about the exclusion of Jewish faculty members during the religious holiday.
The resolution, which is broadly written, could potentially ban Jewish community groups such as Hillel and Chabad from campus. The proposal has been described as anti-Semitic by critics, who argue that it unfairly targets Israel and prevents Jewish staff and students from voicing their opinions. The controversy at Pratt Institute is just one example of increasing hostility against Jewish faculty and students on college campuses across the country, with anti-Israel protests leading to harassment and safety concerns for Jewish students.
The resolution claims that Palestinians have suffered genocide at the hands of Israel and calls for an academic and cultural boycott of the country. The proposal also recommends cutting ties with Israeli institutions and divesting from companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Members of Faculty for Justice in Palestine and several professors have been listed as supporters of the resolution, which has sparked a debate about academic freedom, discrimination, and religious rights.
Critics of the resolution have warned Pratt Institute that the proposed boycott could violate federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. The boycott is considered to be discriminatory against mainstream American Jewry who support Zionism and the state of Israel. The targeting of Jewish students who are Zionists has been treated as harassment or discrimination by the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, raising concerns about the impact of the resolution on Jewish students and staff at Pratt Institute.
Rory Lancman, a senior counsel at the Brandeis Center for Human Rights under Law, has called for the suspension or withdrawal of the resolution, citing concerns about religious discrimination and the violation of civil rights laws. The proposed boycott could have serious implications for Pratt Institute, including a loss of state funding due to New York government policies that prohibit support for institutions that promote the boycott, divest, and sanctions movement against Israel.
Despite calls for the resolution to be abandoned or postponed, no response has been provided by Pratt Institute’s leadership, including Chairman Garry Hattem, President Frances Bronet, and Academic Senate President Uzma Rizvi. The controversy at Pratt Institute highlights broader issues of discrimination, religious rights, and academic freedom on college campuses, with concerns about the impact of the resolution on Jewish students and faculty members. Further discussions and actions are likely to follow in response to the allegations of antisemitism raised against the institution.
