Date: February 25, 2019

To:
Honorable Attorney General, Josh Shapiro
1600 Arch Street
Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19103

From: Israeli American Council, Philadelphia, PA

Dear Attorney General Shapiro:

We are members of the Jewish community in Philadelphia metro area, and are writing
to express our deep concern over Temple University’s continued employment of Dr.
Marc Lamont Hill, a professor and Steve Charles Chair in Media Studies. We
respectfully seek to schedule a meeting with you within the next two weeks to discuss
this important issue.

About Temple University’s Legal and Moral Responsibilities

In November 2005, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recognized that anti-Israel and
anti-Zionist sentiment can cross the line into anti-Semitism, and in the Commission’s
words, “should be distinguished from legitimate discourse regarding foreign policy.” The
Commission clearly stated: “Anti-Semitic bigotry is no less morally deplorable when
camouflaged as anti-Israelism or anti-Zionism.” The Commission specifically called on
university administrations to publicly speak out and “set a moral example by denouncing
anti-Semitic and other hate speech, while safeguarding all rights protected under the
First Amendment and under basic principles of academic freedom.” The U.S.
Department of Education’s Office on Civil Rights has made the same recommendation
to university administrations.

In March 2008, the U.S. State Department issued a detailed report on anti-Semitism
globally, recognizing that anti-Zionist sentiment and criticism of Israel can cross the line
into anti-Jewish bigotry. Whether intended or not, such sentiment and criticism can have
the effect of promoting prejudice against Jews. As an example, the State Department
noted that demonizing Israel and/or Israelis “as barbaric, unprincipled, selfish,
inhumane, etc. is anti-Semitic and has the effect of causing audiences to associate
those bad attributes with Jews in general.” This is often referred to as the 3-D
methodology – Demonization, Delegitimization and Double-Standards. This type of anti-
Semitism is no less hurtful or harmful than more traditional forms of anti-Jewish bigotry,
and universities such as Temple University have the moral and legal obligation to
address it when it occurs.
 Anti-Semitism is on the Rise Nationally

Anti-Semitism is an urgent and compounding problem across the nation. Jewish hate
crime victims, totaling 664 in 2015 according to the FBI’s Hate Crime Report, outnumber
victims of all other religious groups combined (580 victims). A Brandeis Center-Trinity
College study found that 54 percent of Jewish students reported experiencing or
witnessing anti-Semitism in 2014. And the situation is getting worse. An AMCHA
Initiative study reports a 45 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of
2016 as compared to the same period in 2015.

Temple University Should Condemn Anti-Semites, Not Employ Them

Despite the ready availability of evidence of his anti-Jewish bigotry, Temple University
(TU) nevertheless hired and promoted Dr. Hill. (See Appendix). TU’s leadership has
since then failed to address forcefully the outrageous statements made by Dr. Hill, such
as his widely publicized speech at the United Nations, where he echoed calls for to
annihilation of the Jewish State.

In the aftermath of Dr. Hill’s UN speech, CNN fired him from his position as a network
commentator. Temple University, on the other hand, failed to take any significant action.
This includes a failure by Temple University’s administration to exercise its own right to
free speech. At the least, administrators should have forcefully and publicly condemned
Dr. Hill’s anti-Semitic statements and put the student population on guard against the
presence of bigoted propaganda on campus. Whether intended or not, Temple
University has instead sent the message that Dr. Hill’s promotion of hateful lies about
the Jewish state is acceptable and anti-Jewish bigotry is tolerated on the campus.

Dr. Hill’s Rhetoric is Unquestionably Anti-Semitic

Dr. Hill’s remarks have frequently crossed the line into anti-Semitism, based upon the
commonly-accepted IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which the United States
government likewise uses. Hill systematically promotes classic anti-Semitic canards,
uses blood libels, intentionally spreads falsehoods, justifies terror and promotes
violence at conferences sponsored by groups with documented ties to terrorist
organizations (See Appendix). Rejecting the idea of peaceful protest, Hill unabashedly
justifies the killing of innocent Israelis, promotes violence and calls for the annihilation of
the Jewish state. He associates with vile anti-Semites like Louis Farrakhan, and even
Palestinian-Arab terrorists who have served time in jail for murdering and maiming
innocent civilians.
 Dr. Hill is a Danger to Naïve Students

Dr. Hill’s position as a professor provides him the opportunity to indoctrinate uninformed
and unsuspecting students with a negative view of Jewish persons and Israel. Providing
such an anti-Semite with a platform at a state university is not consistent with the public
policy and moral values of Pennsylvania. While diversity of opinions is encouraged in
academic institutions, this principle is delegitimized by the tolerance of a professor
who endorses violence, justifies the murder of innocent civilians, and advocates
for the annihilation of a nation and its people. Anti-Semitism should be treated the
same as any other form of racism, and such an individual should not be permitted to
teach in any academic institution funded by taxpayers.

Hill’s Presence on Campus Negatively Impacts the Learning Environment

The tolerance of Dr. Hill’s anti-Semitic rhetoric negatively impacts Temple University’s
campus culture and learning environment, where pro-Israel and Jewish students and
faculty feel intimidated and at times unsafe. We are deeply concerned by this situation,
and feel diminished by its tolerance. As citizens of Pennsylvania we wish to respectfully
request that you investigate this matter, and specifically examine whether Temple
University’s tolerance of anti-Jewish bigotry might be in violation of the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Israeli American Council (IAC) represents ~15,000 people in Philadelphia area and ~1
million people nationwide. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Sincerely,

Iris Hami, Chair

Israeli American Council, Philadelphia PA

Contact: Yoni Ari, Director

Telephone: 267-515-3270
Email: yoni@israeliamerican.org
CC:
State representatives: Honorable Stan Saylor- Chair, appropriation committee
Honorable Bradford, Matthew D. Democratic chair
Honorable Rosemary M. Brown
Honorable Lynda Schlegel Culver
Honorable Sheryl M. Delozier
Honorable George Dunbar
Honorable Jonathan Fritz
Honorable Matt Gabler
Honorable Keith J. Greiner
Honorable Seth M. Grove
Honorable Marcia M. Hahn
Honorable Doyle Heffley
Honorable R. Lee James
Honorable Fred Keller
Honorable John A. Lawrence
Honorable Jason Ortitay
Honorable Clint Owlett
Honorable Christopher B. Quinn
Honorable Greg Rothman
Honorable James B. Struzzi II
Honorable Jesse Topper
Honorable Ryan Warner
Honorable Martina A. White
Honorable Donna Bullock
Honorable Morgan Cephas
Honorable Carolyn T. Comitta
Honorable Austin A. Davis
Honorable Maria P. Donatucci
Honorable Elizabeth Fiedler
Honorable Marty Flynn
Honorable Ed Gainey
Honorable Patty Kim
Honorable Stephen Kinsey
Honorable Leanne Krueger
Honorable Stephen McCarter
Honorable Benjamin V. Sanchez
Honorable Peter Schweyer