Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Recently, the Heritage brought to its readers’ attention the suspension of Dr. Darren Klugman, a pediatric cardiologist and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, for sharing his emotional anti-Hamas, pro-Israel comments on social media (see Dec. 29, 2023 issue, “The double standard of free speech may cost one doctor his career”).

Since then, the Zionist Organization of America has called on Johns Hopkins University to terminate its investigation into Dr. Klugman and reverse the unjust and unwarranted decision to suspend him.

“Dr. Klugman is Jewish and a supporter of Israel. He has been singled out and subjected to a hateful, antisemitic campaign because of a few strongly worded anti-Hamas, pro-Israel social media posts he made on Oct. 7 and 8, 2023, during the time that the terrorist group Hamas breached Israel’s border and brutally massacred, mutilated and raped over 1,200 Israelis, and kidnapped and took as hostages hundreds of Israelis (and Americans) to Gaza, including babies and the elderly,” the ZOA action alert stated.

In a letter  to Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels and Dr. Theodore DeWeese, chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, the ZOA urged Johns Hopkins to uphold its commitment to free expression, which is clearly and unambiguously set forth in Hopkins’ own policies. These policies expressly protect the right to free expression — no matter how allegedly “misguided, ignorant, or offensive” the views — without censorship or punishment.

In addition, the ZOA noted the unfairly disparate treatment that Dr. Klugman has been enduring. Johns Hopkins is investigating and has suspended Dr. Klugman purportedly to determine whether his actions interfered with Hopkins’ obligation to provide a safe, healthy, diverse, and inclusive environment. But Hopkins has not taken such steps against other individuals who threatened that obligation by expressing their hatred of Jews and Israelis. For example, a graduate student and teaching assistant at Hopkins, who openly threatened to lower students’ grades if they were “Zionists,” remained at Hopkins and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the university, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Urging Johns Hopkins to end Dr. Klugman’s torment without further delay, ZOA National President Morton A. Klein stated, “Dr. Klugman is a highly respected physician who has been publicly praised for the compassionate, life-saving care he delivers to patients. Groups like the Council for American-Islamic Relations, whose executive director praised Hamas’ horrific massacre on Oct. 7 and said that Gazans have the right to defend themselves but Israelis do not, have targeted Dr. Klugman for one reason only: He exercised his right to stand with Israel and harshly condemned the Palestinian Arab terrorists who are openly committed to the murder of Jews and to Israel’s destruction.

“It’s time for Dr. Klugman’s unfair and unwarranted suffering to end. Hopkins should close its investigation and lift Dr. Klugman’s suspension without further delay so that he can resume the dedicated care and treatment he provides to all his patients. In addition, for the sake of Dr. Klugman’s current and future patients, we urge Johns Hopkins to notify the American Board of Pediatrics that Hopkins has terminated its investigation and lifted Dr. Klugman’s suspension, and that Hopkins fully supports and stands behind Dr. Klugman and his continued board certifications in pediatric, critical care, and cardiology.”