The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN) strongly supports the U.S. Department of Justice’s formation of a multi-agency task force to combat antisemitism, with a focused effort on addressing antisemitic harassment in schools and universities. This initiative is a timely and necessary response to the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across the nation, particularly in educational institutions where Jewish and Israeli-American students are increasingly targeted.
ICAN has been at the forefront of advocating for safe and inclusive learning environments for Jewish and Israeli-American students in K-12 public schools. Our work includes promoting mandatory Holocaust and genocide education, making ethnic studies an elective with a balanced curriculum, and combating systemic antisemitic bias in school policies and practices.
As part of our commitment to K-12 educational advocacy, ICAN hosted the inaugural Combating Antisemitism Summit for L.A. Schools in May 2023 and a statewide event in early 2024 for all of California. This landmark event brought together educational leaders, community organizations, and policymakers to address the growing threat of antisemitism in schools and develop strategies for fostering inclusive learning environments. In September 2023, ICAN hosted a Student Hearing on Antisemitism in Los Angeles Schools, where LAUSD students courageously shared their personal experiences with antisemitism, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive approaches to protect Jewish students and ensure their voices are heard.
Continuing this momentum, ICAN is proud to co-host the upcoming California Forum on Ethnic Studies in Public Schools on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025. This statewide, live-streamed event will bring together students, parents, educators, and elected officials to share their real-world experiences with ethnic studies curricula across California. The forum aims to foster honest dialogue about whether ethnic studies courses meet educational standards and how to keep classrooms free from political bias and discrimination. This event reflects our commitment to ensuring that public schools are inclusive, neutral, and free from antisemitic content.
We commend the DOJ’s commitment to strengthening the enforcement of hate crime laws, fostering community engagement, and developing policies that protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination. We also welcome measures that address foreign interference and extremist activities on U.S. campuses, including the revocation of student visas for individuals identified as supporting terrorist organizations like Hamas. Protecting our educational institutions from extremist influence is crucial for maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
While ICAN stands firmly against antisemitism, we also underscore the importance of safeguarding constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and expression. As such, we support the current administration's balanced approach that effectively addresses antisemitism while upholding the fundamental liberties that define American democracy.
ICAN remains committed to collaborating with the DOJ, educational institutions, and community organizations to develop comprehensive strategies that combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and inclusion of Jewish and Israeli-American students.