Princeton scholar urges action on rising antisemitism as New Jersey civil-rights panel drafts report

Robert P. George, McCormick professor of jurisprudence at Princeton and director of its James Madison program, chairs the New Jersey Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He told one outlet that he has been concerned about a revival of antisemitism for years and that the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks triggered a noticeable increase, especially on college campuses. After commissioner Saulo Santiago introduced a motion in January, the committee approved a study and has since conducted seven public listening sessions with Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and educational representatives.

The group is now preparing a report and recommendations for the federal civil-rights commission, grappling with how to define antisemitism while respecting First Amendment speech. Experts such as former Columbia Law School dean David Schizer highlighted the challenge of distinguishing protected criticism of Israel from calls for violence. George stressed that any policy must protect civil liberties while preventing harassment, intimidation, or discrimination against Jews.