Antisemitism

Australia Strengthens Hate Crime Legislation Amid Rising Antisemitism: Exploring the Sweeping Amendments and Human Rights Concerns

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Canberra, Australia – In response to a wave of antisemitic incidents, Australia’s government has introduced significant amendments to its hate crime legislation, which Parliament passed on February 6, 2025. These changes, reflected in the new Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2025, aim to provide broader protections against bias-driven offenses. Similarly, the New South Wales (NSW) government is advancing its legislative agenda to strengthen local hate crime laws. The federal revision expands the scope of protected groups under the Criminal Code Act 1995. Previously, the law addressed violence urged against individuals based on race, religion, … Read more

Scarlett Johansson Calls for Urgent U.S. Action on AI Misuse Amid Rising Antisemitism in Viral Deepfake Controversy

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Los Angeles, Calif. — Actress Scarlett Johansson has called for lawmakers to address the misuse of artificial intelligence after an unauthorized deepfake video featuring her image went viral. The video, which spread across social media platforms, showcased AI-generated likenesses of Johansson and other notable Jewish celebrities in a manner that responded to recent antisemitic comments made by rapper Kanye West. In the controversial video, Johansson is depicted wearing a white T-shirt adorned with a Star of David and the name “Kanye” inscribed below, seemingly linking her to West’s prior antisemitic remarks. The video also featured … Read more

Judge Rules Lawsuit Over Alleged Anti-Semitism at Carnegie Mellon University Can Proceed

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Pittsburgh, PA – A lawsuit accusing Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) of failing to adequately address anti-Semitic discrimination is moving forward, as decided by Judge Scott Hardy. The litigation, initiated by ex-CMU student Yael Canaan, charges that the university exhibited “deliberate indifference” to discrimination based on her Jewish heritage and Israeli background. The legal challenge was launched on December 13, 2023, with Canaan detailing multiple instances where she faced discrimination, culminating in the judge’s recent decision on December 17, 2024, to let the case proceed. Judge Hardy’s ruling points to “plausible” evidence that CMU may have … Read more

California School District Sued for Alleged Failures to Combat Antisemitism on Campus

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Redwood City, Calif. — Several Jewish students have initiated a lawsuit against the Sequoia Union High School District, alleging a failure to safeguard them from what they describe as an increasingly antisemitic environment at their schools. The plaintiffs, who attend schools within the district’s jurisdiction, claim their academic settings have been tainted by a spike in prejudicial behavior which includes the drawing of swastikas on properties and episodes of verbal harassment by peers and staff. One parent, Sam Kasle, has been particularly vocal, sharing that his child, a student at Woodside High School, experienced direct … Read more