New York, NY, December 2, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised New York University (NYU) President Andrew Hamilton for his remarks in which he forcefully rejected the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign as a movement which seeks to undermine Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.

In an interview with NYU Local, President Hamilton said, “To restrict in any way the flow of students or faculty from universities anywhere is something that I would find an affront to academic freedom,” he said. “[If] we are going to defend what we do in research, in areas of political science, in areas of gun violence, in areas of reproductive health, if we’re going to defend that to our own government, we will certainly defend that when it comes to our engagement with other governments, and so for me that speaks to BDS.”

“President Hamilton’s statement sends a clear message to the NYU community and to universities across the country, rejecting the principles of BDS against Israel,” said Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director. “Boycotts are antithetical to core notions of academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas and we have seen the impact BDS campaigns have had on campuses, inhibiting moderate and civil discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and creating corrosive divisions within the campus community.”

“Mr. Bernstein added, “We will continue our efforts to combat and marginalize the BDS movement and other concerning efforts to delegitimize Israel.”

In September, ADL welcomed the New York City Council’s adoption of Resolution 1058-A “condemning all efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the global movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction (BDS) the people of Israel” and praised Mayor Bill de Blasio’s remarks from August in which he rejected the principles of the movement.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.  Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_NY