06/03/2026
NEWS: On Friday, Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order that requires Nebraska’s public schools, colleges and universities to make yearly reports on incidents of antisemitism and directs the state’s Education Department to provide schools with materials on the Holocaust, Israel and Jewish-American history.
At a press event, Pillen called for schools to be places of “mutual respect.” He then turned the conversation to Palestinians.
Nebraska Public Media quoted him saying "they want to kill every Jewish person on the planet. Anybody that wants to stand up and talk about Palestinians, they’ve got to understand that those people are born to kill Jews and Christians.” When a reporter asked if that was an overgeneralization, he said it wasn’t.
The governor's comments echo a dangerous strain of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric. Many Nebraskans, not just those with Palestinian ties, know what it is like to face these kinds of dehumanizing accusations. This comes as advocates, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, are reporting record levels of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim discrimination.
Nebraskans deserved a far more serious conversation around antisemitism, one that didn’t pit people against each other. In recent years, we’ve seen headlines about antisemitic flyers and threats, prompting local synagogues and other community gathering places to heighten security. No one should feel unsafe going to a place of worship.
Nebraskans should oppose all discrimination on the basis of faith or nationality. That’s why we have worked in the courts, communities and the Capitol to address antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination while protecting free speech. We’ll be monitoring to make sure schools respect that line. Remember that Pillen has previously boasted about suppressing pro-Palestinian campus protests.
“Leveling an inflammatory accusation at an entire population is no way to discourage harassment in Nebraska’s classrooms. These false statements erase the humanity of millions of people. Just as antisemitism is a serious problem in our state, so is discrimination against other communities and faith groups. Fortunately, schools already have legal obligations to provide equal access to education and to shield students from harassment. In doing that important work, they must not unlawfully stifle protected speech that they or our governor disagrees with."
- Cassy Ross, ACLU of Nebraska Policy Director
