To the editor:

I applaud Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for taking a principled stand against the disturbing wave of anti-Israel protests and rhetoric that has been occurring on college campuses across New York state. As she rightly pointed out, many of these demonstrations have crossed the line into open antisemitism, with hateful rhetoric and actions that make many Jewish students feel threatened and unsafe.

While free speech is a cherished right, it does not extend to harassment, intimidation, or incitement of violence against students based on their religion or ethnicity. It is vital that our elected leaders speak out forcefully against such hatred and bullying when it occurs, especially at institutions of higher learning that should be bastions of open inquiry and diversity of thought.

Rep. Stefanik deserves praise for her moral courage in denouncing these protests and making it clear that antisemitism has no place on New York campuses or anywhere else in our country. I hope more of our leaders will follow Rep. Stefanik’s example by rejecting the normalization of antisemitic prejudice.

Todd Hight

Herkimer