Assumption lecture focuses on anti-Semitism on American campuses

WORCESTER — On Oct. 5, Assumption College held a lecture entitled "Anti-Semitism: On Campus and in America." The lecturer was Dr. Suzanne Garment, former chief officer for the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy. Dr. Garment also helped UN Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan in his opposition to UN General Assembly Resolution 3379, which declared Zionism to be a form of racism.

After a brief introduction by Assumption professor of political science Dr. Greg Weiner, Dr. Garment began the lecture. She opened with a recent incident at the University of California-Berkely where authorities found posters proclaiming, "Jewish Bullies smash free speech at CAL and are pledged $38 million," and "Attention non-Jews: PAY UP and SHUT UP." The posters were hung in a response to recent U.S. military aid to Israel. At the same time, many Jewish groups were complaining of a course recently introduced to the university entitled, "Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis," which portrayed Israeli citizens as colonialist occupiers from Europe. This course was seen as anti-Zionist and ultimately anti-Semitic.