Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced the state’s support for federal efforts to combat campus antisemitism, emphasizing accountability for those who “harass Jewish students” or “support Hamas.” Carr’s statement was made in a March 18 post on X.
“We’ll continue to stand with POTUS & The Justice Dept to combat antisemitism on college campuses,” said Carr. “Federal law is clear – if you come to our country, engage in violence, harass Jewish students & support Hamas, you can & will be held accountable.”
According to Carr and 14 other state attorneys general, they have pledged their support for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. In a letter addressed to Task Force leader Leo Terrell, they endorsed federal initiatives aimed at addressing antisemitism and pro-Hamas demonstrations on college campuses. The letter stresses the importance of protecting students and enforcing immigration laws, highlighting concerns that some universities have fostered an environment where pro-Hamas propaganda thrives and Jewish students face threats.
The attorneys general also commended the DOJ’s arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian national involved in radical campus protests, as an example of necessary enforcement actions. They emphasized that foreign nationals who misuse their visas to engage in anti-American or pro-Hamas activities should face legal consequences, including potential removal. Attorneys general from South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia joined Carr in this statement.
Carr expressed gratitude for an administration prioritizing public safety and national security. He said that Georgia is actively working to strengthen its laws to include criminal penalties for those collaborating with Hamas and other designated foreign terrorist organizations. “We will not waver when it comes to keeping people safe,” Carr said. He added that they would continue to stand with President Trump and the DOJ in combating antisemitism wherever it occurs.
Chris Carr was appointed as Georgia’s attorney general by then-Governor Nathan Deal in 2016 and was re-elected in November 2022. Since taking office, he has focused on issues such as human trafficking, gang activity, and opioid misuse. This includes establishing the state’s first Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Gang Prosecution Unit. Previously, Carr served as the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development under Governor Deal from November 2013 to November 2016.
