VA Dems Reject Youngkin Anti-Semitism Expert From George Mason Univ Board Amid Troubled Events
As George Mason University grapples with the latest incident of anti-Semitism linked to its Fairfax, Virginia campus, Democrats in the Virginia State Senate have rejected the appointment of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, one of the nation’s leading anti-Semitism scholars, to the Board of Visitors.
Kenneth Marcus, founder of the Brandeis Center and former undersecretary of the Education Department’s Civil Rights Division, was one of the few Youngkin nominees considered on a party-line vote by the Senate Privileges and Select Committee.
Marcus was described by the New York Times as “the man who helped redefine campus anti-Semitism” and told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday that he hoped to continue that work at GMU.
“It was heartbreaking to see Democratic senators move to block my nomination at the same time that we’re scoring a really significant victory against anti-Semitism. Our Harvard University Marcus said he has served on the GMU board since mid-2024 without incident.
Harvard formed two legal committees to deal with anti-initiative allegations.
George Washington University students are participating in a Gaza Unity Camp in partnership with other Washington, DC-area universities. (Getty)
“I really don’t think there’s anything I’ve done that has caused any controversy other than working to protect George Mason students from anti-Semitism,” he said, adding that the school has struggled with the issue of late.
A GMU freshman IT major and Egyptian national is being investigated by the FBI, according to NBC News, for distributing information on weapons, violent crime and making threats against a foreign official.
18-year-old Abdullah Ezeldin Taha Mohammad Hasan is said to have attempted to bomb the Israeli Consulate in New York City in Falls Church, Virginia.
Leaders of Students for Justice in Palestine were also barred from campus after police found signs reading “Death to the Jews” and “Death to America” along with guns.
“This is a big issue with some very serious high-profile issues going on at George Mason right now,” Marcus said.
A person familiar with Youngkin’s thoughts on the situation said the governor “remained calm” and did not get involved publicly, but was angered by the Democrats’ actions.
“He’s working quietly in the hope that Democratic senators are seeing the error of their ways,” the person told Fox News Digital.
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Marcus said he has worked hard to combat anti-Semitism on campus during his seven months on campus. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the facility’s management and board to address this serious issue.”
Marcus said one item he was working on was incorporating definitions of anti-Semitism into GMU’s anti-discrimination policy.
“The most important thing since I joined the board was to work with the administration to include a working definition of anti-Semitism in George Mason’s anti-discrimination policy. That was a big step forward and it was great. It was a shame to see the influential members of the General Assembly react.”
GMU has been subjected to anti-Zionist vandalism. Since last February, GMU President Gregory Washington said there have been at least 70 reports of anti-Semitism to administrators and acknowledged a federal investigation into the reported incidents of harassment.
“I have been asked on several occasions to stop the student protest, even when you are protesting against me, I still support it because I support freedom of speech,” Washington told Teller Ethiopia. Fourth estate Student newspaper.
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Virginia State Capitol. (Getty)
The Senate P&E Committee also rejected the nominations of Mark Short, chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library’s top official and education attorney from Richmond McGuire-Woods.
Richmond Republicans are hoping to re-add Marcus’ name to the legislative list of confirmed nominees on Thursday, but a source said their path is unlikely if no Democrats emerge in the 21-19 Senate.
Fox News Digital spoke to both Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Alexandria, and Senate P&E Committee Chairman Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, about Marcus’ denial.