Texas, Arkansas Advance Antisemitism and Flag Legislation

Reports of rising antisemitism at U.S. colleges include incidents at Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, such as slurs and the disruption of a lecture by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In response, the Texas Senate advanced a bill requiring schools to use the state's definition of antisemitism in disciplinary actions, while Arkansas passed a similar law mandating educational institutions address antisemitism like other discrimination. Free speech advocates warn these measures could suppress legitimate criticism of Israel. Texas lawmakers are also pursuing a bill to ban political and advocacy flags, including LGBTQ pride flags, from public school displays, citing concerns over divisiveness. These legislative efforts come amid national debates about balancing anti-hate protections with free speech and academic freedom. Critics caution that efforts to combat antisemitism must safeguard legitimate dissent regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.