Rep. Owens Grills Georgetown President on Antisemitism and Hate Speech

Antisemitism on College Campuses

• 🎯 Antisemitism and hatred are described as originating from universities, leading students to leave with negative views of the country and each other.
• ⚠️ The committee aims to hold hearings to eradicate discrimination and ensure students learn to respect each other.
• 💡 A dual mission is highlighted: to be the voice for Jewish students who pay tuition to be harassed and to demand that college leaders eradicate this cancer or face consequences.

Defining Antisemitism

• ✅ The question is posed: Is denying Jewish people their rights to self-determination considered antisemitism? The answer is affirmed as 'Yes'.
• 💥 Is celebrating violence against Jews with phrases like 'globalize the intifada' considered antisemitism? The response is an emphatic 'Yes', especially if it's an incitement to violence.
• 🗣️ The normalization of such language means that no one seems to be held accountable.

Controversial Speaker at Georgetown

• 🔍 Representative Owens questions Dr. Groves about Hammad El-Amr, an activist who has spoken on campus multiple times.
• 🩸 El-Amr's statements include accusations of Israelis harvesting organs and a thirst for blood, and claims that Jewish people control the media.
• 🗣️ El-Amr also described Hamas as a liberation movement and their October 7th attack as a resistance tactic, even suggesting Hamas had good political reasons for taking hostages.
• 🏫 Georgetown students and faculty have invited El-Amr to speak four times in the last three years, with the most recent invitation in February 2024.

Double Standards and Free Speech

• 🚫 Representative Owens draws a parallel, asking if Georgetown would allow a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), who wishes death upon Black Americans, to speak on campus.
• ❓ Dr. Groves initially states they endeavor to have speakers from many different sides but ultimately agrees they would not give a platform to a KKK member.
• ⚖️ Owens questions why Palestinian antisemitic bigots are allowed on campus if KKK bigots would be disallowed, implying a double standard.