Antisemitism is on the rise and is reaching epidemic proportions. We have seen this in the streets of our cities and on college campuses, which is, no doubt, unsettling. Abrams Fensterman, LLP, along with the nine other law firms, have taken action to help diminish this outpouring of hate among our universities.
The Letter
After the tragic events of October 7, 2023, the firms wrote a letter to the Law School Deans of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of 176 members and 18 fee-paid law schools across the United States. They expressed how deeply concerned they are and have called for immediate action to safeguard all students and uphold the principles of justice and equality.
The letter was sent on November 8, 2023, and a summary along with the quoted text is below:
“We represent some of the largest law firms on Long Island, and stand with many other law firms and businesses in expressing our extreme disappointment in the lack of condemnation by many law school deans and other administrators of anti-Semitic conduct by students and faculty members since the premeditated, barbaric rape and slaughter by Hamas on October 7, 2023, of some 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of whom were civilian women, babies, and children.”
The letter advises the AALS that it is their principal obligation to protect all students on campus and to demonstrate their profound objection to any hateful rhetoric that originates on their campus grounds. Additionally, they have informed the association that it is their responsibility to provide a safe environment for everyone concerned.
Free Speech Has Its Limits
Additionally, the firms have expressed their awareness of the expression of free speech, but the incidents observed go beyond the acceptance of First Amendment protocols.
“As lawyers, we assure you that we are fully conversant with and supportive of the critical freedoms of expression that are protected by the First Amendment and myriad state constitutions. However, we have witnessed during the past several weeks a disturbing increase in virulent anti-Israel, anti-Jewish speech on university campuses that goes well beyond the bounds of protected expression and, instead, seeks to incite listeners and readers to imminent violence and other unlawful acts against members of the Jewish community and others who support Israel. Indeed, such rhetoric has too often been accompanied by actual acts of mob intimidation that have placed Jewish students and other supporters of Israel in fear of imminent physical bodily harm. In every sense, such “speech” constitutes “true threats,” under controlling Supreme Court jurisprudence. Even if it did not, it is certainly unacceptable in an educational or professional environment.”
Citing AALS’s Responsibility
The law firms concluded by advising AALS that they routinely recruit students from their member schools but will sincerely reconsider hiring these students if action is not taken against these hateful protests and demonstrations on their college campuses.
The letter was signed by the following law firms.
Abrams Fensterman, LLP
Harris Beach PLLC
L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, L.L.P.
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP
Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP
Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
Rivkin Radler LLP
Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.
Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein, LLC
Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP
Many media outlets, including the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Long Island Business News & JDJournal have highlighted the letter.
