CARLISLE, PA — Professor Andrea J. Martin testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee on September 30, 2026, at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in her capacity as a commissioner of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). Chaired by Senator Dave Argall, the hearing brought together educators, parents, and Jewish communal leaders to examine antisemitism in Pennsylvania schools and universities and consider strategies to protect Jewish communities.
Drawing on her scholarship in constitutional and antidiscrimination law, Martin explained how misunderstandings of Jewish identity — particularly its relationship to Israel and Zionism — can prevent institutions from recognizing discrimination against Jewish students. She discussed how exclusion directed at "Zionists" can be dismissed as political disagreement even when that terminology functions as a proxy for targeting Jews. She highlighted the consequences for students who feel pressure to conceal their identities, remain silent, or withdraw from campus life. Her testimony demonstrated how her scholarship and public service inform efforts to strengthen institutional responses to discrimination against Jews.
Appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro and confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate, Martin serves on the commonwealth’s independent, nonpartisan civil rights enforcement agency. Her service includes helping establish agency policies, serving as a public liaison, and resolving discrimination cases that are not settled voluntarily.
This content is sourced from
Penn State Dickinson Law
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
