During Rutgers Visit, Congressman Gottheimer Warns of Rising Campus Antisemitism, Urges Rejection of BDS Movement

During a visit to the Rutgers University Hillel this week, Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) issued a strong condemnation of antisemitism of all forms and warned of the threat posed by rising Jew-hatred on college campuses across the U.S.

“As we all know, antisemitism is nothing new,” Gottheimer said in Monday’s remarks. “We have certainly faced more virulent, painful, and punishing moments in our history. But in recent years, what had been simmering beneath the surface has now been uncorked and we are seeing it rear its ugly head from extremists both on the far right and the far left.”

Regarding antisemitic bigotry faced by Jewish college students, Gottheimer commented, “Let me be as clear as I can be. No student deserves to be targeted because of who they are or what they believe — here or anywhere.”

Gottheimer also urged Rutgers to reject the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

BDS, Gottheimer noted, was “antisemitism dressed up as political purity.”

He added, “While it’s absolutely acceptable for students and faculty to speak their minds and disagree, the goal of the BDS movement is eradication of Israel. Imagine if someone called for the destruction of one of the 22 countries in the Arab league? When organizations, companies, and institutions validate BDS, they’re contributing to the problem and furthering that hatred.”

Gottheimer pointed out that the Rutgers chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) had “not only called for BDS, they have vocally and repeatedly spoken out against fellow students, the Jewish community, and Hillel for being Zionists.”

“While BDS … is painted as a socially-progressive cause on college campuses, that could not be further from the truth,” he continued. “BDS inherently denies the Jewish people’s 3,000-year-old connection to the Land of Israel, while seeking to delegitimize Israel and deny its right to exist as a Jewish state.”

You are invited to read the full transcript of Congressman Gottheimer’s remarks here.