Auburn University basketball coach Bruce Pearl recently appeared on Fox News Channel's "America's Newsroom" to address what he believes to be an increase in antisemitism in the United States since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
While many in the state and D.C. are speculating on Pearl's prospective candidacy for next year's U.S. Senate election, he is continuing to sound the alarm for what he believes is an influx of antisemitism in America and the world.
SEE: Questions about potential Bruce Pearl for U.S. Senate campaign linger
In response to the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers shot at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., Pearl noted that he has an extra measure of caution recently, due to his outspokenness on the issue of antisemitism.
“It’s not political, it’s survival,” Pearl said on Friday. “We have to protect ourselves from people who want to kill us. And, at the same time, we’ve got a responsibility to sort of be God’s chosen people.”
“I have my head on a swivel," he continued. "I understand that being outspoken and trying to speak truth as to what the Bible says, what the history says and what the reality says about what’s going on in Israel right now and the fight against antisemitism is extremely important to me.”
Pearl added, “Obviously, this is a great country. Free speech is allowed, even when it comes down to hate speech. But people have to understand what that speech actually means. When they say, ‘Free Palestine,’ they mean free Palestine or free Israel of the Jews. When they talk about ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ it’s free of what? It’s free of the Jews. So, in other words, they’re basically calling for us to either leave or be dead. I’m not OK with that. I don’t think people in this country are OK with that.”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
