IN RECOGNITION OF PASSAGE OF THE HOUSE RESOLUTION AGAINST ANTI- SEMITISM, BIGOTRY AND HATRED; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 42
(Extensions of Remarks - March 08, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF PASSAGE OF THE HOUSE RESOLUTION AGAINST ANTI-
SEMITISM, BIGOTRY AND HATRED
______
HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 8, 2019
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today, Congress
made clear that there is no place for anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, or any
other hate-based rhetoric in America. In doing so, we are echoing the
words of George Washington who pledged to the Jewish community in
Newport, Rhode Island, that `the Government of the United States, which
gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires
only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves
as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual
support.'
The language of anti-Semitism is often subtle, but it is very painful
to Jewish Americans: they hear the implied threat and the `othering' of
them as Americans. We all must be mindful of the impact of our words.
All hatred on the basis of religion is abhorrent, including the
suggestion that all Muslims are terrorists or that Catholics owe
allegiance to the Pope, accusations that have tarnished our political
discourse in recent memory.
We are currently witnessing an alarming spike in anti-Semitic
rhetoric and hate crimes. Just a few months ago, we witnessed the
deadliest attack on American Jews in our nation's long history, with 11
worshippers murdered while praying at Tree of Life Synagogue in
Pittsburgh. In my community in New York City, we've had a 72 percent
increase in hate crimes against Jews with Jewish men being attacked and
beaten on the street; schools and walls defaced with Nazi symbolism;
and synagogues vandalized. Elsewhere in the U.S., attacks on Jews are
growing.
Last year, we heard the shameful chants of white supremacists in
Charlottesville saying, `Jews will not replace us.' Recently, we've
heard the suggestion that Israel hypnotizes the world into overlooking
its actions. We've heard that pro-Israel groups purchase U.S. support
for Israel, as if the only reason American politicians would support
Israel is campaign contributions and not because of our shared values
and interests. We've heard the ancient anti-Semitic trope of dual
loyalties--one that goes back thousands of years.
Words and ideas lead to action. Anti-Semitic language and hate-filled
rhetoric have no place in this country and must be condemned in the
strongest possible terms, which is why I was proud to join my
colleagues in voting for today' s resolution.
But we also need to be proactive, and not just reactive, in our fight
to combat hate and anti-Semitism, which is why I have introduced the
Never Again Education Act, H.R. 943, so that all Americans can learn
about the Holocaust and the impact of anti-Semitism. We must do
everything we can to eliminate anti-Semitism in the United States.
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