TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Just two days after a shooting at a Southern California synagogue left one person dead and several others injured, the Florida Senate on Monday unanimously approved legislation that would require public schools, colleges and universities to treat anti-Semitism the same way racism is treated.
Under the bill, the state’s K-20 education system would add religion as a protected class with regard to discrimination against students and employees.
Currently, people can’t be discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, marital status or disability. Senator Joe Gruters is the bill sponsor.
“Legislation before us today would prohibit anti-Semitism in our state’s educational institutions," said Gruters. "House Bill 741 will ensure that anti-Semitism is treated in an identical manner to another scourge in our society, racism.”
The Florida House of Representatives passed the measure earlier this month, and the legislation now goes to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.
