. . . Dianne Lob, Chair, William Daroff, CEO, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, issued the following statement:
“Over the past 72 hours, a wave of antisemitic attacks in the United States reached crisis levels. The ADL reports a nearly 50% increase in antisemitic incidents over the past week.
Communities across the country are reporting acts of violence, intimidation, and abuse, both physical and verbal. In Tucson, Arizona and Skokie, Illinois, synagogue windows were smashed. In Miami, a Jewish family was showered with trash. In midtown Manhattan, a roving mob of anti-Israel thugs marched through the heavily Jewish Diamond District, harassing and beating passersby and diners and using fireworks as weapons to cause damage and intimidate Jews. In Los Angeles, Jews were beaten, intimidated, and chased by people and cars waving Palestinian flags.
These criminal acts must be called by their true name – hate crimes against American Jews. There is no justification or excuses for antisemitism.
Government officials at all levels must take a firm stand against any violence, arson, vandalism, or intimidation perpetrated against Jews and Jewish establishments. The police must be empowered to act in a decisive and timely fashion to prevent and respond to these acts.
It is the responsibility of the news media to report these crimes accurately and in a timely fashion. The near-silence of the national press corps to this rising tide of Jew hatred is particularly startling. This epidemic of hate crimes must be exposed, called out, and responded to forcefully.
It is the responsibility of all Americans, particularly elected officials, opinion molders, and leaders in every sector, to speak out and act to protect Jews and others who are being threatened, whether online or on the streets.
The reticence of many to condemn these actions as clear antisemitic hate crimes demonstrates why adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, with its examples of how anti-Israel activities can quickly devolve in anti-Jewish hate, is essential. Targeting Jewish businesses and desecrating houses of worship with anti-Israel slogans constitutes hate.
We call on police, prosecutors, and the judicial system to act accordingly – to fulfill their responsibilities by imposing severe penalties on those who engage in these vile acts.
We call on all Americans to stand up and work together to staunch the noxious flow of antisemitism and hatred that poisons relationships, distorts our discourse, and results in bodily harm and destruction.”
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