Antisemitism Watch

Columbia Lawsuit Highlights Media Blind Spots on Campus Antisemitism
ADL Report: Jewish Teachers Fear Retaliation in Unions Over Israel Comments
FIU Students Sue Over Suspensions for Private Chat Messages, Claiming Free Speech Rights

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You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler.

Today, we begin with legal and media accountability surrounding campus incidents. Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent pro-Palestinian protest leader, is suing Columbia University and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo. Khalil alleges the university fostered a 'hostile environment' for pro-Palestinian students and exhibited 'deliberate indifference,' which he claims contributed to his 104-day detention by federal immigration authorities. Columbia University representatives defended Dean Yarhi-Milo, stating she supports students of all backgrounds and is committed to a campus free of discrimination.

Meanwhile, reporting from David Bernstein in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, drawing on his own article, argues that major news outlets, including The New York Times, have significantly underreported or misrepresented antisemitic incidents that have accompanied 'pro-Palestine' protests. Bernstein details specific antisemitic confrontations at Columbia, such as assaults on Jewish students, antisemitic chants, and students being spat upon, noting that Columbia officials themselves acknowledged 'threatening rhetoric and intimidation' on campus.

Turning to institutional responses, a new study by the Anti-Defamation League reveals widespread issues within teachers unions. The ADL surveyed 307 Jewish K-12 teachers, finding that over 70% report their unions have made 'problematic statements that fail to condemn Hamas or the October 7 attacks.' Furthermore, 70% of these teachers feel the need to self-censor in union spaces regarding Israel and the Jewish experience, fearing professional repercussions. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt described this as a 'structural and cultural failure' and a 'dangerous trend of institutionalized antisemitism.' The study also indicated that 78% of union-sponsored programming related to Jews or Israel was found to be biased.

In Florida, four Florida International University students are pursuing legal action to halt their suspensions over messages exchanged in a private WhatsApp group chat. Abel Carvajal, Dariel Gonzalez, Ethan Ratchkauskas, and Dante Mojena filed a renewed motion with a federal court on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, asserting they have 'valid First Amendment claims.' This action follows a ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on September 14, who found the students' allegations sufficient to support a First Amendment claim, though other counts in their lawsuit were dismissed. FIU had accused members of the private, off-campus chat of posting threatening, racist, antisemitic, and offensive material.

In accountability news, Lincoln Memorial University has reached a voluntary settlement with federal civil rights authorities. A joint investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced Tuesday, September 15, found that LMU's DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine systematically denied accommodations to Jewish students for religious holidays during the 2025-26 academic year, while routinely granting similar requests for non-Jewish students. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, 'Students of all ethnic and religious backgrounds — including Jewish students — should receive the same treatment at our nation’s universities.'

Online, a new analysis by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, or CAM, shows nearly 60% of social media posts referencing the 9/11 attacks also fused them with antisemitic conspiracy theories. CAM's Antisemitism Research Center found that these theories often act as a 'gateway' to older libels, with claims blaming Jews or Israel for events like the Jeffrey Epstein network or the JFK assassination frequently linked to 9/11 narratives. The Anti-Defamation League also noted that artificial intelligence is being used to create synthetic 'proof' for claims that Jews orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.

Reflecting ongoing security concerns, Jewish communal spending on security has surged past a record-breaking $1 billion, a 33% increase from 2024, according to the Jewish Federations of North America. Institutions are increasingly seeking government funding, with bipartisan legislation, the Jewish American Security Act, proposing $1 billion annually for security grants. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently addressed congregants at Central Synagogue, offering state police support and emphasizing investments in securing Jewish institutions.

In the UK, an article in Fathom analyzes how academic freedom and free speech are being selectively invoked on university campuses, potentially normalizing antisemitic expression and leading to institutional inaction post-October 7th. The piece argues that universities must distinguish protected political debate from conduct that intimidates or discriminates against Jewish and Israeli students and faculty.

And in politics and media news, Robert Kraft, the Jewish owner of the New England NFL team, has reportedly blocked rapper Macklemore from performing due to alleged antisemitic remarks.

Finally, Jewish municipal leaders are urging the relaunch of a U.S. Coalition of Inclusive, referencing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, Working Definition of Antisemitism.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.

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

📚 Sources

Sources:
- fathomjournal.org: https://fathomjournal.org/?post_type=post&p=17004
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/florida-university-students-ask-court-to-block-suspensions-over-racist-antisemitic-group-chat/article_2a74dc20-aeab-57ce-905c-4bad99a699b0.html
- jta.org: https://www.jta.org/2026/09/15/ny/mahmoud-khalil-sues-columbia-university-citing-hostile-environment-for-pro-palestinian-students
- reason.com: https://reason.com/volokh/2026/09/15/distortion-by-omission-the-new-york-times-and-pro-palestine-demonstrations/
- columbusjewishnews.com: https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/florida-university-students-ask-court-to-block-suspensions-over-racist-antisemitic-group-chat/article_3adc1086-6606-5e62-92b6-576140b74967.html
- ynetnews.com: https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/syb27ewtmg
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/15/9-11-conspiracy-theorists-fuse-beliefs-antisemitism-new-analysis-finds/
- combatantisemitism.org: https://combatantisemitism.org/cam-news/jewish-municipal-leaders-urge-newly-relaunched-us-coalition-of-inclusive-and-sustainable-cities-to-adopt-ihra-antisemitism-definition/
- Algemeiner: https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/09/15/when-it-comes-security-assistance-jewish-americans-must-be-careful-what-they-ask/
- jewishtimes.com: https://www.jewishtimes.com/anti-defamation-league-study-jewish-teachers-report-antisemitism-in-unions/
- facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/WBIRChannel10/posts/the-department-of-justices-investigation-found-lmu-dcom-disproportionately-denie/1537551205084812/
- wbir.com: https://www.wbir.com/article/news/education/doj-settlement-reached-end-discrimination-against-jewish-students-lincoln-memorial-university/51-b61f65c2-f8de-41e5-833a-6eb323607bd6
- wvlt.tv: https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/09/15/lincoln-memorial-university-reaches-federal-settlement-end-discrimination-against-jewish-students/