As the United States faces record levels of anti-Semitic violence, vandalism, and hate speech, the Biden Administration is stepping up to fight it.
At a virtual event from the White House, President Joe Biden detailed a new provisions to combat violence and prejudice against Jewish people. It is the first time in U.S. history that the federal government has addressed anti-Semitism on a national level.
The plan includes over 100 provisions that push for congressional legislation, increased social media moderation by platforms, and investing in education on Jewish history and anti-Semitism. Biden said that the four key points aim to increase awareness around anti-Semitism, reverse the normalization of such hatred, improve safety in Jewish communities, and built solidarity between Jewish groups and other communities.
“It sends a clear and forceful message: In America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom of antisemitism will not be the story of our time,” Biden said in a message Thursday.
The Biden Administration's plans come in response to a December letter signed by over 100 lawmakers who urged him to formulate a strategy in the face of rising anti-Semitic hate. According to a report from the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents increased by 36 percent in 2022, the highest level recorded since 1979. Hate crimes usually spike within a single year, but for the past five years, violence against the Jewish community has been steadily increasing.
Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is Jewish, and led the Thursday discussions alongside Biden. The Second Gentleman said that the provisions would not only protect Jewish communities, but protect the nation's democracy.
“At its core, anti-Semitism divides us. It erodes our trust in government institutions and one another. It threatens our democracy while undermining our American values of freedom, community, and decency,” Emhoff said. “I know the fear. I know the pain. I know the anger that Jews are living with because of this epidemic of hate."
