South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and state and international leaders convened with university officials on Monday to address the rising antisemitism on college campuses.
"The rise in antisemitism in America since the October 7th attacks has been appalling. Being able to meet with the families and victims of the Nova music festival while in Israel this spring was a powerful experience that I knew needed to be shared," said Attorney General Wilson. "I am grateful for the partnership with the Israel Consul General's Office and the Combat Antisemitism Movement for the opportunity to spend the day discussing how to combat antisemitism on campus with leaders in education and bring the October 7th movie to South Carolina. While seeing this footage may make some uncomfortable, we should all be uncomfortable with what we're seeing unfold across our country."
Incidents at major U.S. universities have seen Jewish students attacked, beaten, spit on, and threatened, leading many to feel unsafe.
The summit featured break-out sessions covering topics such as “How Universities and Faculty Can Protect Jewish Students,” and “Student and Parent Experiences on Campus Since October 7th.” Governor Henry McMaster, state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, and Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States Anat Sultan-Dadon also addressed attendees.
Following public opening statements, private discussions were held to promote candid participation. The group toured USC’s Anne Frank Center, which aims to inspire action against antisemitism, bigotry, and inequality through Anne Frank's story.
The event concluded with a private screening of video footage from the Hamas attack on October 7th.