Dear Editor,
I read Habib Meiloud’s recent commentary in VTDigger opposing H.310, and I felt the need to respond to clarify some serious misunderstandings about the bill and what it actually sets out to do.
Let’s start with the core claim that this bill is designed to shut down political speech about Israel. That is simply not true. The word “Israel” does not appear once in the bill. H.310 does not ban anyone from criticizing Israeli policy or discussing global issues. What it does is make sure that no student is targeted or demeaned for being Jewish.
H.310 updates Vermont’s harassment law to include antisemitic harassment, just as our laws already address racial, ethnic and sexual harassment. It also ensures that educators have access to training and curriculum support to prevent antisemitism from being normalized or ignored in schools.
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This bill was written in response to a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across Vermont since Oct. 7, 2023. Swastikas have appeared in school bathrooms and houses of worship have been graffitied with “Free Palestine.” Many families — like my own — have been blamed for the war and are feeling isolated and unsafe.
H.310 is not about silencing anyone. It is about protecting students from harassment.
If we are going to debate this bill, let’s at least start with the facts. That means reading the actual text, not reacting to misrepresentations of what it says. Don’t take my word for it. Read it yourself on the Vermont General Assembly website.
Mark Treinkman
Athens
