Antisemitism is here in the United States, it is on the rise, and Jews are scared.
According to AJC’s Antisemitism in America Report, 46% of Americans are unfamiliar with the term antisemitism and 53% either believe antisemitism has stayed the same or decreased over the past five years, which is the opposite of what is happening.
To encourage elected officials to take action, use the below text as a letter or script in reaching out to your members of Congress.
As your constituent, I am writing to express concern and urge you to take actions to protect Jewish Americans. Antisemitism is here in the United States, it is on the rise, and Jews are scared.
Over the past several weeks, there has been a surge in violent antisemitism in the streets of New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, South Florida, and other major U.S. cities, in addition to many European capitals. According to the FBI’s latest statistics, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 60.2% of all hate crimes motivated by religion, a shocking number for a group that accounts for 2% of the U.S. population. On top of that, this past month, acts of verbal and physical violence against Jews have spiked. These attacks are alarming to the Jewish community and we know they must be equally shocking to you. Yet, amidst this atmosphere of vulnerability and fear, many in the Jewish community have felt alone.
And while many have taken an active stand, for which we are grateful, this is not enough. While media attention for this alarming wave of antisemitic incidents has grown, coverage is still insufficient and awareness about the violent nature of these attacks is too low. According to AJC’s latest survey on antisemitism, 46% of Americans are unfamiliar with the term antisemitism and 53% either believe antisemitism has stayed the same or decreased over the past five years, which is the opposite of what is happening.
The fight to eradicate antisemitism cannot be done by the Jewish community alone. We call on all those who believe in combating bigotry, no matter its form or source, to be outraged by the recent spike of antisemitism and to speak out against it.
There are a number of ways members of Congress can show their support at this time:
Speak Out: In newspaper, TV appearances, and on social media, condemn recent attacks against Jews. Say unequivocally that thishate has no place in your city or state, or in our great country.
Show Outrage: Join AJC’s international campaign raising awareness about the recent spike in antisemitic violence by posting on social media using the #WheresTheOutrage hashtag and graphic. You can also print the#WheresTheOutrage sign here, take a picture with the sign, and post it on social media.
Listen: Meet with your local Jewish community to hear their concerns. AJC is standing by to convene conversations at this critical time.
Help Educate Your Community: Antisemitism is unique in that it comes in many guises from diverse sources. AJC’s Translate Hate, a glossary of antisemtic terms and tropes, is a tool for elected officials, law enforcement, educators, and others to help them recognize antisemitism in their midst.
Join with Colleagues: Join the House or Senate Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism to raise awareness and join broader, long term efforts to address the issue.
Thank you for your support and partnership with the Jewish community.
