Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 35

Introduced by Senator Stone

(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Berryhill, Block, Gaines, Mitchell, Roth, Vidak, and Wolk)

March 26, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 35—Relative to Anti-Semitism.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 35, as introduced, Stone. Anti-Semitism.

This measure would urge each University of California campus to adopt a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and racism, and would condemn any act of anti-Semitism augmenting education programs at all publicly funded schools in the State of California.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The United States Department of State defines
anti-Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be
expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical
manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or
non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish
community institutions and religious facilities”; and

WHEREAS, There is clear evidence of increasing and alarming
incidents and expressions of anti-Semitism throughout the world;
and

WHEREAS, From sea to shining sea one can witness the
proliferation of anti-Semitic activity; and

WHEREAS, In February of 2015, the California Legislature’s
Jewish Caucus held a press conference addressing anti-Semitic
acts and in the same week an estimated 500 people gathered on
the steps of the State Capitol to protest the recent rise in
anti-Semitic acts occurring across the nation, including the display
of the Nazi swastika symbol superimposed on to an American flag
that was hung in the front of a private home in Sacramento’s River
Park neighborhood, which tarnished the reputation of the Golden
State; and

WHEREAS, Swastikas and other anti-Semitic sentiments have
increased in recent months on college campuses across the country
and around the world; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, the kinds of recorded anti-Semitic acts
committed in the United States and around the world included
murders; violent attacks, and death threats against Jews; arson,
graffiti and property desecration; and murders at Jewish cemeteries,
places of worship, schools, and community events; and

WHEREAS, These types of anti-Semitic acts also extended to
soccer stadiums, the internet, editorial cartoons, and the use of
Nazi salutes, leading many Jewish individuals to conceal their
religious and ethnic identity; and

WHEREAS, In April of 2014, the United States Department of
State released the International Religious Freedom Report
recognizing that anti-Semitism continues to be internationally
prevalent; and

WHEREAS, The governments of France, Germany, Italy, and
the United Kingdom, the four countries where the majority of
anti-Semitic incidents have occurred in Europe, have strongly
condemned anti-Semitism as unacceptable in European society
and have all made clear statements that such attacks on their Jewish
communities are intolerable; and

WHEREAS, The State of California actively promotes tolerance
to all faiths and religions; and

WHEREAS, The United States government has played an
essential role in counteracting the resurgence of anti-Semitism
worldwide and has consistently supported efforts to address the
rise in anti-Semitism through its bilateral relationships and
participation in international organizations such as the United
Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,
and the Organization of American States; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature joins with people everywhere in
unequivocally condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting
attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred or violent attacks as an
acceptable expression of disapproval or frustration over political
events in the Middle East or elsewhere; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby urges each
University of California campus to adopt a resolution condemning
all forms of anti-Semitism and racism, including Islamophobia;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature condemns any act of
anti-Semitism augmenting education programs at all publicly
funded schools in the State of California in order to promote
tolerance and acceptance of all religious beliefs in accordance with
the rights afforded to each person by the Founding Fathers of this
nation and the authors of the United States Constitution; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.