Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Executive Order 13 last Friday, reaffirming Iowa’s support for Israel and the Jewish community while condemning antisemitism in all forms. The order comes amid rising reports of antisemitic incidents nationwide following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people. Reynolds says, “Since the Oct. 7 attacks, we’ve seen an increase in antisemitism across the U.S., including on college campuses. While many of Iowa’s colleges and universities have condemned such activity, we want to be clear that antisemitism has no place in Iowa.” Reynolds’ executive order directs the Iowa Board of Regents to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office for Civil Rights to ensure state universities comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The board must also review university policies and responses to antisemitic incidents since October 2023 and report its findings to the governor by Dec. 1. The Iowa DOE will also make available instructional resources to Iowa schools to support instructional standards on Jewish history, the Holocaust, and Israel to support educators statewide.
Gov. Reynolds Signs Executive Order Condemning Antisemitism
