Chicago, IL – Tensions are high at DePaul University following a surge of antisemitic incidents that have shaken its campus community and sparked legal action. Among these incidents were violent attacks against Jewish students, which many see as a reflection of a broader, troubling trend in higher education.
In the heart of this storm are Max Long and Michael Kaminsky, two DePaul students who have become the faces of Jewish civil rights advocacy on campus. Long, originally from Boston and a former member of the Israel Defense Forces, moved to DePaul to combat what he described as an overwhelming climate of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. Kaminsky, a junior from Buffalo Grove, IL, similarly used his platform to educate peers about Jewish identity challenges and antisemitism.
Their efforts, however, met with severe backlash. On November 6, in what is alleged to have been a targeted hate crime, Long and Kaminsky were assaulted by two masked assailants. The attack, which occurred in plain view of a DePaul public safety officer, left Long with a brain injury and Kaminsky with fractures and lacerations. Despite the presence of the officer, no immediate intervention was made to prevent the assault.
This incident is not isolated. It came after multiple threats were reportedly made against Jewish students, with activists like Brooke Goldstein, attorney and founder of The Lawfare Project, highlighting a pattern of negligence on the part of the university. Goldstein, who is legally representing Long and Kaminsky, emphasized that DePaul’s failure to act even with prior knowledge of threats is unacceptable. The university’s inaction and the resulting harm to Jewish students are now subjects of legal scrutiny.
Moreover, concerns about campus safety were further exacerbated by slogans such as “From the river to the sea” and “Globalize the intifada,” chanted during campus rallies, which many interpret as calls for violence against Jews. These expressions, along with instances of Jewish students being prevented from openly expressing their Jewish identity, signal deep-rooted issues that extend beyond mere campus safety and venture into violations of civil rights.
Legal representatives from The Lawfare Project, along with other community advocates, are now pushing for significant institutional changes at DePaul. They demand not only justice for the victims of these attacks through rigorous law enforcement action but also comprehensive measures by the university administration to address and rectify its failures in protecting its Jewish student population.
In response to the crisis, DePaul University issued statements condemning the attacks and outlining steps to enhance security and community dialogue. However, skepticism remains among students and advocates about the effectiveness and sincerity of these measures.
As legal proceedings continue and the university reassesses its policies on hate crimes and campus safety, the DePaul community remains under scrutiny from national civil rights groups and the public. These incidents have galvanized a broader discourse on the safety of Jewish students across America’s campuses, indicating a critical need for systemic change.
The resilience of students like Long and Kaminsky, alongside the legal and community support they have garnered, sends a strong message that antisemitism will not be tolerated silently. It’s a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for tolerance and justice on the grounds of American educational institutions. As this story unfolds, it is clear that the outcomes will have implications not only for DePaul but for universities nationwide in their handling of hate crimes and discrimination.