Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a Republican bill targeting antisemitism in Arizona schools, calling it an attack on teachers while GOP governors nationwide push for stronger protections for Jewish students amid a 600% surge in antisemitic incidents.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed an antisemitism education bill that would have allowed students and parents to sue teachers, claiming it unfairly targeted educators with personal liability.
- Antisemitic incidents have surged by 600% nationwide since September 2023, with college campuses becoming particularly hotspots for Jewish harassment.
- Republican governors from Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Virginia are implementing comprehensive measures to combat antisemitism in schools through executive orders and legislation.
- GOP lawmakers have confronted college presidents over the handling of antisemitism incidents, demanding accountability and enforcement of Title VI protections for Jewish students.
- Conservative leaders are adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism and expanding Holocaust education in school curricula.
Arizona Democrat Vetoes Anti-Antisemitism Bill
Governor Katie Hobbs has blocked legislation that would have given students and parents the right to take legal action against educators for alleged antisemitism in Arizona classrooms. The bill, titled “Antisemitism in Education Act,” aimed to prohibit teaching antisemitic content in public schools and higher education institutions while making teachers personally liable for violations. Hobbs justified her veto by claiming the legislation wasn’t genuinely focused on combating antisemitism but rather on attacking educators with unreasonable legal exposure that only applied to public, not private, schools.
“Unfortunately, this bill is not about antisemitism. It’s about attacking our teachers. It puts an unacceptable level of personal liability in place for our public school, community college, and university educators and staff, opening them up to threats of personally costly lawsuits,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said in her veto statement.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Michael Way, argued that the legislation was essential to prevent antisemitism from being taught in classrooms amid increasing reports of harassment and discrimination against Jewish students. Despite opposition from Hobbs, he maintained that the bill aimed to ensure “that pernicious form of hatred, antisemitism, and its often-violent outcomes, have no place being actively taught in our classrooms or in publicly funded institutions of higher learning.”
Chairman @RepWalberg and several Members of the Committee just sent a letter to @Harvard's president to investigate reports of discrimination in the school's hiring practices—in violation of the Civil Rights Act.
These reports come as the school fails to address antisemitism on… https://t.co/jARJDDqCil pic.twitter.com/DfZP31pF0n— House Committee on Education & Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) June 10, 2025
Republican Governors Take Decisive Action
While Arizona’s Democratic governor blocked antisemitism legislation, Republican governors across the country are implementing strong measures to protect Jewish students and community members. Governors from Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Virginia have signed executive orders and legislation that establish clear definitions of antisemitism in student codes of conduct, designate Title VI coordinators to handle complaints, and enhance Holocaust education. These actions come as a direct response to the alarming 600% increase in antisemitic incidents reported since September 2023.
“It’s time for leaders of conscience to draw a bright line, translating rhetoric into robust action to protect all members of the Jewish community from the scourge of antisemitism,” wrote Governors Bill Lee, Sarah Sanders, Kevin Stitt, and Glenn Youngkin in a joint statement.
The governors’ initiative requires public schools to address antisemitism with the same seriousness as any other prohibited form of discrimination. Their approach includes adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism and establishing specialized investigative processes to document incidents and take appropriate disciplinary action. Virginia has formed a dedicated work group to address the issue, while Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have designated specific coordinators to handle antisemitic complaints.
You’re Only For Free Speech If You Defend It For People You Hate
We should protect people physically, not emotionally
by @galexybrane & @shellenberger
A Israel supporter (left) shouts slogans against Pro-Palestinian demonstrators as they hold a protests outside Columbia… pic.twitter.com/WOzG2EMOlB— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 1, 2024
Congress Confronts College Presidents Over Campus Antisemitism
The House Committee on Education and Workforce, led by Republicans, has held hearings to question college presidents about their handling of antisemitism on campuses following the Israel-Hamas war. Committee members pressed administrators from institutions including Haverford College and DePaul University about specific incidents and their protocols for protecting Jewish students. Representative Elise Stefanik particularly challenged Haverford’s president about disciplinary actions taken against a professor accused of antisemitic behavior, though details were not disclosed during the hearing.
“Let us be clear: No student should face threats in the classroom or on campus, nor feel targeted because of their religion or heritage,” stated Governors Bill Lee, Sarah Sanders, Kevin Stitt, and Glenn Youngkin.
While some Democrats have criticized these hearings as potential threats to free speech, Republicans maintain that the First Amendment does not protect acts of violence or threats against Jewish students. The committee is focusing on enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. College administrators have responded by outlining protective measures for Jewish students, though many critics argue these efforts remain insufficient given the continuing rise in antisemitic incidents.
The Balance Between Free Speech and Safety
The debate over antisemitism legislation highlights the tension between protecting free expression and ensuring student safety. Republican governors have emphasized that their initiatives respect constitutional rights while establishing clear boundaries. “We believe in free speech, but the First Amendment does not protect acts of violence or threats of physical harm,” the coalition of GOP governors stated, framing the fight against antisemitism as a fundamental civil rights issue that requires immediate and decisive action.
“Antisemitic speech, while lamentable, is constitutionally protected, just like racist speech, sexist speech, and homophobic speech,” said David Cole, a Democratic witness at congressional hearings.
The stark contrast between Republican and Democratic approaches to addressing antisemitism reflects broader ideological differences in handling campus speech issues. While Democrats like Governor Hobbs express concern about potential overreach and teacher liability, Republicans are pushing forward with comprehensive frameworks that treat antisemitism with the same seriousness as other forms of discrimination. As antisemitic incidents continue to rise nationwide, particularly in educational settings, the effectiveness of these divergent approaches will likely become increasingly apparent in the months ahead.
