By james art 
As George Mason University claims with several major incidents of anti -Semitism in its campus, Democrats in the Virginia Senate have rejected governor Glen Youngkin’s reputation as one of the leading experts on anti -Semitism in the country – who advises the university – on its advice to visitors.
State Senator Adam Ebbin, a member of the Senate Privilege and Election Committee, which deals with nominations, told Jewish Insider The fact that the vote on January 22 to block Ken Marcus, founder of the Center for Human Rights of Louis D. Brandes by law, whom Yungkin has appointed to the Council of Visitor Visitors, will not influence the “administration and the ability of the board to be opposed anti -Semitism. ”
“I appreciate the work of G -n Marcus against anti -Semitism, but it is also important to me the civil rights of minorities, women and LGBTQ students are protected,” said Ebbin, who is a Jew in front of Ji.
Another Jewish Democrat in the State Legislative Authority, the State Senator Scott Sourail, told GE that “this is a tradition, at least in my cruise on the Senate, not to enter the merits of individuals who are not really able to defend themselves on the floor on the Senate, so we try not to enter this. “Ebbin and Sourail are the two Jewish members of the State Senate.
Other legislators of Virginia’s country of Virginia did not respond to requests for comment from J, asking if they believe that Marcus deserves a position on the board of George Mason, especially given the difficult environment for Jewish students on the campus.
Marcus is described by Thehe New York Times As “the only most effective and respected force when it comes to both court disputes and the use of the Statute for Civil Rights” to combat anti -Semitism. Against the background of an increase in anti -Semitism in the campus, the Center of Brandes has filed a number of cases of Title VI on behalf of Jewish students seeking resorting to anti -Semitism.
The critics on the left say the group is silencing what they see as a protected political speech criticizing Israel.
“I do not understand what all these problems have to be a member of the Council of Visitors at George Mason University,” Marcus said. “But I am certainly proud of my record and disappointed that others may try to politicize the problem.”
Marcus noted that the role of the Council of Visitors does not necessarily have to set up a civil rights policy, but “guarantee that the university complies with the federal and state law.”
“Considering my experience as a civil rights employee, teacher and author, I believe I have a deep experience in this field.”
In addition to Marcus, the Democrats who control the Virginia Senate rejected eight of the other appointments aboard Youngkin last week. The names can still be restored by the Chamber of Delegates when it takes the legislation on appointments later this month.
Youngkin said in a statement in front of Washington Post that “Senate Democrats rejected high achievements. It’s not just a small policy; Their actions hurt Virginia and institutions such as George Mason University and the Virginia Military Institute. The Virginians look at the house to correct this wrong. “
At the same time, hundreds of others appointed by Youngkin – including conservative Republicans – were approved by Democrats for state councils, office posts and agency positions.
The switch to blocking Marcus, who was an assistant civil rights education secure in the first President Donald Trump’s first administration, came weeks after the House of George Mason was found in Palestine. Separately, a third student was accused of thinking about a mass attack by victims against the Israeli Consulate in New York.
Several pro-Israeli persons related to the university expressed concern for GP earlier this month about the university’s response to these incidents.
The Big Washington Jewish Community Council advocates for private meetings to remain Marcus.
In a statement to JI, JCRC said: “Ken Marcus and the Brandes Center have been tireless leaders in the fight against anti -Semitism, especially in the last year and a half, as we have seen the percentage of anti -Semitism grow to alarming levels. Over the last few days, we have been actively involved in facilitating open conversations about the appointment of G -n Marcus at George Mason’s University Council. Given the procedure status of the nomination and how fast it moves, we focus our efforts on direct communication with leadership. ”
At the same time, Vicky Fishman, director of the Virginia Government and the relations between the JCRC community in the Grand Washington JCRC, told JI on Wednesday that the issue of George Mason is “not the main focus of the recent intercession day, guided The JCRC, which has a “main focus” on the recent JCRC, in which the intercession day, led by JCRC Jewish groups around Virginia, gathered in Richmond to lobby legislators.
Several sources familiar with meetings with legislators have said that while the issue of anti -Semitism at George Mason University is not on the official list of JCRC talk points, the worries have been so deeply deducted that it has been organically brought into many people with people with people with State legislators.
“He was brought up in side conversations,” Fishman told Ji. “What we all lobbly lobbied was long -term funding for the grant program for hate crimes and generally measures the fight against anti -Semitism.”
“People are interested in understanding what [board] The process is and how this happened, ”Fishman said. “There were some questions.”