A bipartisan group of more than a hundred lawmakers has called on President Joe Biden to adopt a “whole-of-government approach” to combat anti-Semitism, citing increasing discrimination and acts of violence against Jewish communities.
In a letter sent on Dec. 5 to Biden, lawmakers said they want to ensure that leaders within the administration are “working together to execute a unified national strategy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism.”
“History has taught us that attacks and conspiracy theories that target Jews not only threaten Jews, but frequently grow to threaten the security of other communities and the foundations of democracy,” the group wrote.
Lawmakers cited FBI data showing that anti-Semitic hate crimes rose by 6 percent in 2020; marking the highest total in 12 years.
Lawmakers also noted that Jewish communal institutions and synagogues are increasingly becoming targets of violent attacks, pointing to deadly assaults on Jewish communities in Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas in recent years.
“We welcome the measures the Administration has taken thus far to address anti-Semitism. However, combating a growing threat of this magnitude, particularly here at home, requires a strategic, whole-of-government approach,” the lawmakers wrote.
‘Closer Coordination Needed’ Among Agencies
The group went on to ask that officials from an array of agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the State Department, the White House, the Department of Education, the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as well as dozens more work together to tackle anti-Semitism.“Because many individual agencies play a critical role in combating anti-Semitism, closer coordination is needed to share best practices, data, and intelligence; identify gaps in efforts; streamline overlapping activities and roles, and execute a unified national strategy,” lawmakers said.
“The strategic collaboration of such entities would also send a key message to the American people and the international community that the United States is committed to fighting anti-Semitism at the highest levels,” they added.
The letter was signed by the chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism in the House of Representatives, including Reps. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), and over 100 other lawmakers.
The movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” is available to rent on Amazon’s website for less than $12 and features themes of Holocaust denial; and claims that Jewish people control the media as it seeks to prove that certain people of color, including black Americans, are the real descendants of the biblical Israelites.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said earlier this month that the retailer has to allow its millions of customers with differing viewpoints access to such viewpoints, “even if they are objectionable and even if they differ from our own personal viewpoints.”
Meanwhile, the White House was set to address rising anti-Semitism in a roundtable event with Jewish leaders on Wednesday.
