FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2025
Since October 7, 2023, anti-Israel protests and encampments have created hostile environments on college campuses across the country. JCRC vehemently disagrees with the rhetoric and tactics used by many protesters, and continues to press campus leadership and local law enforcement to ensure public safety and accountability. We simultaneously believe immigrants in this country deserve humane treatment and are entitled to civil liberties such as free speech and due process under the Constitution.
Many anti-Israel protesters routinely deploy despicable, hate-filled, and threatening rhetoric to espouse their views. Others have openly and proudly vocalized support for Hamas and Hezbollah, deadly terrorist organizations entirely antithetical to progressive values. Free speech alone, even that which we find despicable, is a protected constitutional right.
In some circumstances, protesters have crossed the line from free speech to criminal violations that may void their immigration status. Actions against protesters must be taken in accordance with due process rights in these legal proceedings. It is also incumbent upon law enforcement agencies to provide these protesters with transparency around their alleged violations and proper notice before commencing deportation proceedings.
JCRC remains steadfast in our work combating antisemitism: educating our K-12 leaders and civic partners through our Here I Am trainings, working diligently with elected officials to ensure our community’s public safety, and regularly meeting with Bay Area university leadership to offer recommendations to improve the campus climate.
Jewish safety and the safety of other vulnerable communities, including immigrants, are deeply rooted in the strength of our American democracy and constitutional rights, including free expression, due process, and other civil liberties. JCRC Bay Area will always maintain its commitment to justice and deep respect for the rule of law.
About JCRC
JCRC Bay Area is the largest collective voice of Bay Area Jews, working in pursuit of a more just world where Jewish identity is embraced and all people thrive. By building bridges and working in coalition with diverse ethnic, faith, political, and civic communities, we foster partnerships, provide meaningful educational and engagement opportunities, and build consensus for actionable solutions to real-world challenges. www.jcrc.org.
