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The
order would extend protections against discrimination under the
1964 Civil Rights Act to people subjected to anti-Semitism on
college campuses, the official said.
The order “just explains if an incident is anti-Semitic it could
fall into a Title 6 violation," the official said, referring to
Title 6 of the law which prohibits discrimination on the basis
of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities
receiving federal financial assistance.
"Just because someone is Jewish doesn’t mean they should be
punished and not receive the same protections for discrimination
under Title 6," the official said.
The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks acts of racism, said it
recorded 201 anti-Semitic incidents at colleges and universities
in 2018, down from 204 in the previous year.
Trump's plan to sign the order was first reported by the New
York Times. The Republican president has been a staunch
supporter of Israel.
The pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)
movement over Israel’s policies toward Palestinians in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip has gained support among some university
students in recent years.
The movement, however, has received a bipartisan rebuke in the
U.S. Congress and many states have passed anti-BDS measures.
Some critics argue that participating in boycotts is protected
by Americans' constitutional right to free speech and that
legitimate criticism of Israeli policies could be stifled under
the name of combating anti-Semitism.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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