MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

Rutgers Faces First Amendment Lawsuit Over Campus Fliers
New York Democrats Condemn Antisemitism in Party Resolution
Global Antisemitism Spikes Amid Rise of Inauthentic Online Accounts

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Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic edition, I'm Rachel Adler.

We begin today with developments on campus. At Rutgers University, a former law student, Yiorgos Maravelias, is suing the school for allegedly violating his First Amendment rights. According to thecollegefix.com, Maravelias was arrested in May 2024 for hanging 'anti-Hamas fliers' near an 'anti-Israel encampment.' He claims Rutgers Law administrators 'disfavored' his political views and wrongly 'perceived him as Jewish' – a perception he disputes, as reported by thecollegefix.com. The lawsuit alleges that Professor Sahar Aziz initially told Maravelias hanging the fliers violated school policy, a claim disputed by Dean Cate Lysionek. Maravelias says Dean Johanna Bond later declined to meet with him. Though campus police told him he'd be arrested if he continued, and he was charged with disorderly conduct, the local prosecutor dismissed those charges. However, Rutgers maintained student conduct violations against him, while, according to thecollegefix.com, officials offered no clear explanation of the rules for posting fliers. This comes amidst reports that Jewish students at Rutgers have faced antisemitic attacks, as noted by facebook.com.

In New York, the State Democratic Party overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning antisemitism earlier this month, reports the New York Post. The move aims to counter perceptions that party leaders are 'soft' on anti-Jewish hate. The resolution defines contemporary antisemitism, including Holocaust denial, modern blood libels, conspiracy theories of Jewish control, accusations of dual loyalty, and using Israel as a pretext for hostility. New York Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, speaking to the New York Post, defended Zohran Mamdani against Republican accusations of antisemitism, stating that while Mamdani sympathizes with the Palestinian cause and opposes some Israeli government actions, he is not an antisemite. The resolution also calls for legislation, resources, and educational initiatives to combat antisemitism. The New York Post notes that party chairman Jacobs called the omission of the resolution from an earlier party press release an oversight, stating, 'We dropped the ball.'

Globally, antisemitism remains a significant concern, with a near 75% spike in recorded incidents. CAM's Antisemitism Research Center, or ARC, documented 231 antisemitic incidents worldwide in the past week, according to jpost.com. The report indicates Far-Left ideologies were the leading driver, accounting for over 65% of these incidents. A separate ARC study highlighted the role of online platforms, finding that over 40% of X accounts amplifying posts by prominent news aggregator Mario Nawfal were inauthentic, likely bots or fake profiles. This, jpost.com reports, points to the weaponization of coordinated networks to spread conspiracy theories and incite hate, often linked to hostile anti-Western regimes. Among the tracked incidents was one in New Jersey, where a Toms River traffic crash victim reportedly rejected Jewish medics, demanding 'Real 911,' as detailed by jpost.com.

Finally, in New York City, the mayor is framing an initiative for security funding as a crucial step in creating a new national standard for public safety, according to a report on facebook.com. The report mentions Representative Mike Lawler in connection with this initiative.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic edition.

For broader coverage of antisemitism across the United States and around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch at clockwork media dot org slash A W.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

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Sources:
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-rise-of-antisemitism-since-oct-7-an-exclusive-interview-with-ari-ackerman/
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/TheCollegeFix/posts/rutgers-student-sues-school-over-arrest-for-hanging-anti-hamas-fliersclaims-his-/1505443298271827/
- thecollegefix.com: https://www.thecollegefix.com/rutgers-student-sues-school-over-arrest-for-hanging-anti-hamas-fliers/
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/world/jk-rowlings-agent-fights-back-against-silent-boycott-of-jewish-writers
- jpost.com: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-912039
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/jns-tv/the-green-partys-anti-zionism-resolution-and-the-fight-over-jewish-identity
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/18/us-news/ny-democratic-party-approves-resolution-condemning-antisemitism/
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/NMalliotakis/posts/with-anti-semitism-on-the-rise-in-new-york-i-highlighted-my-work-to-deliver-secu/1660981628723327/

If you've witnessed or experienced an antisemitic incident, report it to your local Jewish Federation:

In a true emergency, call 911 first.

• Middlesex & Monmouth, NJ — Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater MetroWest, NJ (Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset) — Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ: Report an incident

• Northern NJ (Bergen, Hudson, Passaic) — Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater Philadelphia — Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Report an incident

• NYC, Long Island, Westchester & Rockland — UJA-Federation of New York: Responding to antisemitism