Virginia Senator’s Mark Warner and Tim Kaine wrote to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to urge the Department to take steps to combat antisemitism and islamophobia on college campuses.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas crisis, institutions of higher education have seen a rise in antisemitism and islamophobia including hate speech, harassment, and violence which has created an environment of fear and vulnerability for students.

The letter brings attention to a few recent incidents including the hit and run attack on an Arab Muslim student at Stanford University and violent threats posted online against the Jewish community at Cornell University.

The senators call for:

• expansion of the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign
• creation of an Islamophobia Awareness Campaign
• additional outreach efforts to the affected communities
• providing resources to colleges and universities from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights

To view the senator’s full release, click here.