A federal judge ruled that the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) must take decisive action to protect their Jewish students after finding that they were “excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith.” This was the first time a judge ruled against a university on a matter pertaining to the campus protests that embroiled colleges  this past spring. UCLA was one of the hotbeds of the protests, attracting particular scrutiny in April after the university failed to intervene when protestors prevented pro-Israel students from entering campus and later allowed protestors to engage in violent conduct. The ruling was celebrated by users on social media who saw this as a necessary, and historic, step to protect Jewish students on campuses and demand accountability from those who fail to do so. Yet, some voiced concern and disappointment that it had to take a federal court to make a decision that is rooted in morality. In response, a spokesperson for the university criticized the ruling, saying it would “improperly hamstring our [UCLA’s] ability to respond to events on the ground,” adding that UCLA is considering appealing the court’s decision. 

In other collegiate news, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced Wednesday that she will be stepping down from her role months after protests entangled the  campus and just weeks before students return for the fall semester. In a letter to the campus community, Shafik said the recent period “has taken a considerable toll on my family” and upon reflection decided that “moving on at this point would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead.” In the past months Shafik has come under considerable pressure and scrutiny following her handling of the pro-Palestine protests and encampments at Columbia, which included students taking over an administrative building, and saw dozens arrested. Her decision to step down was met with cheers from a group of pro-Palestine protestors who were gathered in New York City that night and by celebratory messages on social media by both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel individuals who were unhappy with her job as president. Other students voiced mixed reactions, saying they understood the situation at Columbia University this year was very difficult to manage and just hope that the environment on campus this year will be more inclusive and conducive for learning.

People on social media are calling for a boycott of Disney’s upcoming movie “Snow White,” taking issue with Israeli actor Gal Gadot’s starring role. Gadot plays the evil queen in the film, and, since the trailer’s release on August 10th, individuals have been sharing antisemitic posts targeted at Gadot. The hateful posts said “she is the perfect person to play a character that tries to kill a child and steal her kingdom” due to her Israeli identity, and posts claiming she only got the role because Jews control the world, and Hollywood. The backlash increased when her co-star, Rachel Zegler, tweeted thanking her fans for the support they are giving the movie, ending her tweet with, “and always remember, free Palestine.” Many online saw the Palestine reference as an attack directed specifically at Gadot’s identity. This comment further divided the online audience: on one side, the antisemitic attacks towards Gadot increased, and on the other side, individuals defended Gadot, saying that boycotting her movie does not help the Palestinian people, and by singling out Jews it is antisemitic in nature.

This was just the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents in Hollywood. Marvel Studios faced backlash earlier this year, when they changed the identity of the character of superhero Sabra from her Mossad past to a role in the Russian secret service. They initially planned on changing Sabra’s past due to the ongoing Israel war and an increase in antisemitism in the world, but after receiving backlash, Marvel Studios has confirmed that Sabra will keep her original identity in the upcoming movie and will be played by Israeli actress Shira Haas. Actor Aaron Taylor Johnson has also been subjected to antisemitic abuse, after it  was rumored he would be the next James Bond. The hashtag #BoycottJamesBond started trending on X as people called on others to boycott the new movie purely because of the actor’s Jewish origins. 

Jewish athletes representing the United States, Australia, and Israel achieved remarkable success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, picking up a total of 23 Olympic medals: seven gold, eleven silver, and five bronze. 

 

Among the highlights were Australian sisters Jessica and Noemie Fox, who made headlines after both won gold medals in their races. Jessica claimed two golds in canoe slalom and kayak slalom, bringing her career total to six Olympic medals. She was followed by her younger sister Noemie who won gold in the new kayak cross event. Jessica and Noemie became the first Jewish siblings to each win gold at the same Games since the 1960s, when the Press sisters did so for the Soviet Union in track and field.

 

The United States’ fencing events also saw notable Jewish success. Six out of the twenty US fencers this year were Jewish or come from Jewish families. The US women’s foil team, including Jackie Dubrovich and Maia Weintraub, won gold, continuing a tradition of Jewish excellence in fencing reminiscent of the infamous 1936 Berlin Olympics. Individual achievements included Nick Itkin’s bronze in men’s foil fencing.

 

US wrestler Amit Elor made history by becoming the youngest American Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and the first American Jewish wrestler to win an Olympic gold since Henry Wittenberg in 1948. Following her victory, Amit revealed that she faced a wave of antisemitic remarks directed at her on social media because she was a Jewish athlete. Amit released a powerful video standing up to the comments she received while holding her gold medal. 

Israel also celebrated a landmark performance, with Tom Reuveny winning the country’s first gold medal of the Games in windsurfing, and the nation achieving its highest ever olympic medal count.

 

Two communities came together this past week to stand up to Jewish hate. 

 

On Sunday, residents of Bethesda, MD, joined to wash away antisemitic graffiti found near an elementary school. The hate speech was discovered on the school’s sign and sidewalk when residents arrived early that morning to a weekly farmer’s market that takes place on the grounds. They quickly worked together to remove and cover up the antisemitic phrases from the property. 

 

Also happening overnight into Sunday, a pizzeria in Ottawa, Canada, was vandalized with swastikas and other racist graffiti. When it was discovered by the owner, community members and customers were quick to aid in painting over the hate speech on the building and scrubbing the racist remarks from the sidewalk. 

 

The pizzeria’s owner, George Abou Faissal, said he hopes the perpetrators learn how harmful their language is, saying, "We pray for them. Maybe God will give them some wisdom."

 

This past week, there were several instances of neo-Nazis attacking citizens, marching through city streets, and attempting to spread hateful propaganda. On Saturday, around a dozen neo-Nazis wearing ski masks marched during Ohio’s Springfield Jazz and Blues Fest carrying rifles and swastika flags. In a Facebook post, the city of Springfield called the presence of the neo-Nazi group “deeply concerning.” with Mayor Rob Rue adding, “There was an attempt to disrupt our community by an outside hate group. Nothing happened, except they expressed their First Amendment rights. Our Police Division was aware and in control the entire time.” 

 

Tuesday, in Nebraska, residents of Funk received neo-Nazi propaganda dropped in their driveways. The propaganda was dropped in bags of sand reading “Aryan Freedom Network,”, a known neo-Nazi group with chapters in over two dozen states.

 

Sunday, around 40 neo-Nazis, masked and wearing all black, marched through Brisbane, Australia, chanting racist slurs and holding a banner calling for a “free England.” Police charged one man and fined three others after the march. The Premier of Queensland, Steven Miles, called the language used by the neo-Nazis “abhorrent,” adding “it’s just not what Queensland stands for. It’s not who we are.”

 

On Monday, in northern Turkey, a teenager stabbed five people near a mosque while live-streaming the attack on social media. The 18-year-old, identified as Arda K., was wearing a helmet and bullet-proof vest featuring the “black sun,” a symbol that originated in Nazi Germany. The victims, mostly elderly men, were at a cafe in the area after prayers at a local mosque. The perpetrator was also carrying a second knife with a swastika and “KKK” written on it and was detained after the attack. 

 

 

Sunday, August 11, marked seven years since the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. On that night in 2017, hundreds of right-wing extremists marched across the University of Virginia campus. The marchers held torches and shouted racist and antisemitic language, including, “you will not replace us” and “Jews will not replace us.” The following day, violent clashes erupted on the streets of the city resulting in the death of counter protester Heather Heyer. These events shocked the world and served as a stark reminder that antisemitism is alive and growing in the United States. 

The seven-year anniversary of the march was commemorated on social media as people shared the pictures from that weekend, reminding people of the fear felt at the time. Others on social media used the opportunity to call out the continued rise in antisemitism in the past year and especially since October 7th.

 

 

 

 

FCAS is a nonpartisan, registered 501c3 non-profit organization. We do not support any political party or candidate. We never endorse candidates for office. We do call on everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to support the fight against Jewish hate and all hate.

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