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Commission approves minutes, hears testimony on campus antisemitism, BDS, social media and local school incidents
Summary
The Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism approved the minutes of its May 5 meeting and spent the session receiving testimony on antisemitism in campuses, the BDS movement, social media trends and local K–12 incidents.
The Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism approved its May 5 meeting minutes and heard multi-hour testimony from national and local experts on rising antisemitism in higher education, the BDS movement and state policy responses, social media trends, and a detailed local account of antisemitic incidents in an East Hampton public school district.
The commission approved a motion to adopt the minutes from the May 5 meeting. Representative Howitt moved to approve the minutes; Senator Buis seconded. Chair Vilas announced the motion carried and the minutes were approved.
The hearing then included extended testimony from Alan Solomont, a former U.S. ambassador and Dean Emeritus at Tufts University Tisch College, who described how debates over Israel and the Oct. 7 attacks have driven a surge in campus incidents and urged the commission to avoid letting antisemitism concerns be “weaponized” for unrelated policy aims. David Weber, a law professor at Boston University, testified about the BDS movement and urged Massachusetts to consider anti‑BDS measures similar to laws enacted in 37 other states. Adam Katz, president of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), presented social‑media monitoring data showing a sharp rise in posts and impressions with antisemitic content since October 2023 and outlined messaging strategies to convert “unengaged” bystanders into allies. Owen Zarratt, a former city councilor and Jewish community organizer from East Hampton, testified that multiple school‑district incidents, including swastika graffiti and Nazi salutes, went unaddressed and that local officials, he said, minimized or concealed incidents rather than investigate them.
The commission’s agenda included public discussion and follow‑up requests for materials from the witnesses. Chairs invited written materials and legal models from the Nexus Project and from Professor Weber on anti‑BDS statutes. Commissioners also asked FCAS to provide state‑level social‑media breakdowns and message testing data that the commission can use in drafting recommendations for education and reporting pathways.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve May 5 meeting minutes — Mover: Representative Howitt; Second: Senator Buis; Outcome: approved.
Next steps discussed at the meeting included requests that witnesses submit model statutory language, evidence summaries, and campus best practices for inclusion in the commission’s draft recommendations.
