A top deputy to American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has been accused of “fostering a culture of anti-semitism that alienates Jewish members” by a key Republican senator.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, noted in a Thursday letter to Weingarten obtained by The Post that AFT vice president Todd Wolfson hosted a “Scholasticide in Palestine” webinar in March that characterized anti-Israel protests on college campuses — which have included harassment and intimidation of Jewish students and faculty — as “antigenocide speech.”
Leaders of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Academic Engagement Network (AEN), Hillel and other Jewish groups slammed the virtual seminar for promoting “a one-sided and inflammatory narrative” on Israeli-Palestinian issues — and refusing to even mention Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack.
“In the six months since he received this warning from [the ADL], Dr. Wolfson has not only failed to address these concerns but has exacerbated them,” Cassidy told Weingarten.
Wolfson — an associate professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University who is currently on leave — oversaw the seminar in his capacity as president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a position he holds concurrent with his AFT post.
He has also accused the Trump administration of engaging in “weaponization of anti-semitism” against US universities, called for an American arms embargo against Israel and decried Vice President JD Vance as a “fascist.”
“Advocating a political position as the president of an academic association stifles the voices of members who may think differently,” Cassidy chided Weingarten.
“It is clear that Jewish members are not being defended. Jewish faculty members deserve to carry out their work free from discrimination,” the Louisiana Republican wrote. “As an association with a national presence, it is concerning that AFT has not only failed to help solve this problem but has made it worse by allowing Dr. Wolfson to continue to serve in a leadership role.”
In September, an ADL/AEN survey found “73.2% of the surveyed faculty reported observing anti-Jewish activities or statements from faculty, administrators, or staff on campuses, and 44% were aware of an organized Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) chapter on their campus.”
“The overwhelming majority of respondents who were aware of an FJP chapter on their campus reported that the chapter engaged in anti-Israel programming (77.2%), organized anti-Israel protests and demonstrations (79.4%), and endorsed anti-Israel divestment campaigns (84.8%),” a 23-page joint report by both organizations noted.
Cassidy demanded Weingarten respond by Nov. 6 with details about how AFT is protecting Jewish members from antisemitism.
The senator also asked for clarity on AFT’s partnership with AAUP and demanded a public condemnation of Wolfson’s remarks about Vance and weaponized antisemitism.
Reps for AFT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
