Amended in Assembly June 30, 2015

Amended in Senate May 6, 2015

Senate Concurrent ResolutionNo. 35


Introduced by Senator Stone

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

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(Coauthor: Assembly Member Linder)

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March 26, 2015


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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 35, as amended, 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 at all publicly funded schools in the State of California.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, The United States Department of State defines
2anti-Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be
3expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical
4manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or
5non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish
6community institutions and religious facilities”; and

7WHEREAS, There is clear evidence of increasing and alarming
8incidents and expressions of anti-Semitism throughout the world;
9and

10WHEREAS, From sea to shining sea one can witness the
11proliferation of anti-Semitic activity; and

P2    1WHEREAS, In February of 2015, the California Legislature’s
2Jewish Caucus held a press conference addressing anti-Semitic
3acts and in the same week an estimated 500 people gathered on
4the steps of the State Capitol to protest the recent rise in
5anti-Semitic acts occurring across the nation, including the display
6of the Nazi swastika symbol superimposed onto an American flag
7that was hung in the front of a private home in Sacramento’s River
8Park neighborhood, which tarnished the reputation of the Golden
9State; and

10WHEREAS, Swastikas and other anti-Semitic sentiments have
11increased in recent months on college campuses across the country
12and around the world; and

13WHEREAS, In 2014, the kinds of recorded anti-Semitic acts
14committed in the United States and around the world included
15murders; violent attacks and death threats against Jews; arson,
16graffiti, and property desecration; and murders at Jewish
17cemeteries, places of worship, schools, and community events;
18and

19WHEREAS, These types of anti-Semitic acts also extended to
20soccer stadiums, the Internet, editorial cartoons, and the use of
21Nazi salutes, leading many Jewish individuals to conceal their
22religious and ethnic identity; and

23WHEREAS, In April of 2014, the United States Department of
24State released the International Religious Freedom Report
25recognizing that anti-Semitism continues to be internationally
26prevalent; and

27WHEREAS, The governments of France, Germany, Italy, and
28the United Kingdom, the four countries where the majority of
29anti-Semitic incidents have occurred in Europe, have strongly
30condemned anti-Semitism as unacceptable in European society
31and have all made clear statements that such attacks on their Jewish
32communities are intolerable; and

33WHEREAS, The State of California actively promotes tolerance
34to all faiths and religions; and

35WHEREAS, The United States government has played an
36essential role in counteracting the resurgence of anti-Semitism
37worldwide and has consistently supported efforts to address the
38rise in anti-Semitism through its bilateral relationships and
39participation in international organizations such as the United
P3    1Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,
2and the Organization of American States; and

3WHEREAS, The Legislature joins with people everywhere in
4unequivocally condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting
5attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred or violent attacks as an
6acceptable expression of disapproval or frustration over political
7events in the Middle East or elsewhere; now, therefore, be it

8Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
9thereof concurring,
That the Legislature hereby urges each
10University of California campus to adopt a resolution condemning
11all forms of anti-Semitism and racism, including Islamophobia;
12and be it further

13Resolved, That the Legislature condemns any act of
14anti-Semitism at all publicly funded schools in the State of
15California in order to promote tolerance and acceptance of all
16religious beliefs in accordance with the rights afforded to each
17person by the Founding Fathers of this nation and the authors of
18the United States Constitution; and be it further

19Resolved, That nothing in this resolution is intended to diminish
20the rights of anyone, including students, to freely engage in any
21speech or other activity protected by the United Statesbegin delete Constitution;end delete
22begin insert Constitution, including that which is critical or supportive of the
23policies of any country;end insert
and be it further

24Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
25this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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