Australian police charged the surviving perpetrator in the Hanukkah terror attack at Bondi Beach with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. If convicted, Naveed Akram faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The attack on December 14 left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured.
Fresno State University officials say they are investigating multiple incidents of vandalism on campus, reporting that property was defaced with antisemitic messages that have since been removed. The university’s president notified the campus community about the investigation and condemned the acts saying, “Antisemitism, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination run counter to our values and to the environment we are committed to upholding.”
Hillel International’s Assistant General Counsel, Ariel Katz, writes about her experience empowering Jewish students who have faced harassment or discrimination. Through CALL, the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line, a resource created in partnership with Hillel International, ADL, and the Brandeis Center, Jewish students and faculty can report incidents and access free, confidential, and expert legal support. Over the last two years, Ariel and the CALL team have assisted with over 600 incidents, helping students pursue justice and accountability. In this time of heightened antisemitism, CALL is making sure students know they don’t have to face these challenges alone.
San Francisco police arrested a suspect in connection with the December 5th arson attack that caused “significant damage” to the San Francisco Hillel building. While no injuries were reported, the fire caused the closure of the facility and the cancellation of events. Hillel staff thanked the San Francisco State University administration for their ongoing support. This is a developing story.
Eight San Jose, California high schoolers were recently suspended after a photo of them creating a “human swastika” spread online. The social media post, which also included a quote from Hitler threatening the “annihilation of the Jewish race,” caused widespread concern in the community and led to a student walkout at the high school in support of Jewish students. The superintendent for the Campbell Union High School District described the incident as “hate violence,” saying, “We are committed to using this incident as an opportunity to deepen education around antisemitism.”
Two Jewish students at DePaul University continue to face threats of violence and doxxing, including “Wanted” posters printed with their names and faces, a year after being physically attacked by masked individuals on campus. While their attacker took a plea deal, the students are pursuing a civil lawsuit against the university for failing to keep them safe.