Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) called for universities allowing antisemitic protests to no longer receive federal funding.
Scott joined other presidential hopefuls who have also spoken against the increasing number of protesters on college campuses seemingly toting antisemitic tropes. The South Carolina senator claimed an “eruption of antisemitism” began years ago but lamented that it continues to go unchecked.
“Now we see ourselves with foreign students on college campuses, and our own students, joining together calling for Jewish genocide,” Scott said while appearing on America’s Newsroom on Friday. “They’re actually advocating for mass murder, and they’re encouraging genocide.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is running for the GOP presidential nomination against Scott, has promised to cancel the student visas of foreign students engaging in such protests. Scott would go on to echo DeSantis.
“Those universities and colleges that will not hold them accountable should lose their Pell Grant funding,” Scott said.
Consequences have already set in for universities accused of allowing antisemitism in on-campus protests. Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and his wife Batia have stepped down from Harvard University’s executive board after dozens of student groups signed a letter that said they “hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence” from Hamas.
Some employers, including the law firm Davis Polk, have rescinded job offers to students who engaged in activism against Israel, while other employers threatened they would not hire students.
