Attorney General Tim Griffin of Arkansas, along with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, has addressed a letter to Columbia University on behalf of 23 other state attorneys general. The letter expresses concern over rising antisemitism on the university's campus linked to groups promoting boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel.
Griffin stated, "Since the Hamas attack on Israel last October, antisemitism has grown on university campuses, including Columbia University. Earlier this month, one Columbia anti-Israel student group advocating divestment rescinded its apology of a member’s remark about killing Zionists."
Despite protests at Columbia University against Israel, Griffin acknowledged the institution's stance against the BDS movement: "In spite of antisemitic protests on its campus, Columbia has held the line against the BDS movement and should be commended for it. Our coalition urges Columbia to continue this position in the face of antisemitism from pro-Palestinian student groups while balancing student speech rights."
Previously in August, Griffin led another coalition urging Brown University to reject a proposal for divesting from companies doing business with Israel. This action triggered anti-BDS laws in several states. On October 9th, Brown University's governing body announced their decision not to support the proposal demanded by protesting students.
Tim Griffin was inaugurated as Arkansas's 57th Attorney General in January 2023. His previous roles include serving as Lieutenant Governor and representing Arkansas’s Second Congressional District. Additionally, he holds a military career as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
Griffin is an alumnus of Magnolia High School and Hendrix College and earned his law degree from Tulane Law School. He resides in Little Rock with his family.