The Department of Education has opened an investigation into a March conference jointly hosted by the federally-funded Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies. Titled “Conflict Over Gaza: People, Politics and Possibilities,” the conference was widely seen as anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.
A video taken at the conference by filmmaker and activist Ami Horowitz showed Palestinian rapper Tamer Nafar performing a “satirical” anti-Semitic song. It resulted in public alarm and subsequently, Rep. George Holding (R-NC) writing to U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting an investigation.
In her response, DeVos noted that Title VI federal funds require grantees to sponsor activities that “reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views, and generate debate on world regions and international affairs.” The Duke-UNC conference did nothing of the sort.
