WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), announced that she, along with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), will be launching the Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. The bipartisan caucus, the first-of-its-kind collaboration in the United States Senate, will bring together elected leaders from the Black and Jewish communities, and both sides of the aisle, to strengthen Black-Jewish relations, bolster mutual understanding, and work to combat antisemitism and racism.
“In the 20th century, the Black-Jewish partnership helped usher in the birth of the civil rights movement, as Black and Jewish Americans came together to take a stand against bigotry and hate,” said Senator Rosen. “Today, according to the FBI, Black Americans are by far the most targeted for racially motivated crimes, and Jewish Americans are the most targeted by religiously motivated hate crimes. Racism and antisemitism threaten the safety of our communities and the very foundation of our democracy. We must stand side by side to tackle these challenges head-on. This new, bipartisan caucus is an opportunity to come together and build bridges that connect us, shine a light on our common challenges, and form a coalition where we advocate for one another as we help lift up both the Black and Jewish communities.”
“The Black community understands the pain of discrimination that our Jewish friends have faced both here and abroad,” said Senator Scott. “With anti-Semitism on the rise, it’s increasingly important that we stand united. I’m honored to join Senators Booker and Rosen in creating this caucus, which I hope will be a model for folks across the nation. No matter our race, backgrounds, or political beliefs—if we come together as Americans—I am confident we can create a better, safer future for all.”
“The African-American and Jewish communities have historically shared common struggles, and from those struggles, we have formed an undeniable bond,” said Senator Booker. “Our two communities have a long history of working together and standing against hate and bigotry. I am proud to join my colleagues in launching the Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations to strengthen the ties of our communities and work towards our common goals of promoting civil rights, standing up against hate, and building a more just and caring world.”
BACKGROUND: The bipartisan Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations will:
- Raise awareness of each community’s challenges and needs, in Congress and around the country;
- Work to eradicate antisemitism, racism, and bigotry in the United States through legislation, education, and meaningful dialogue on and off Capitol Hill; and
- Provide resources to members of Congress to empower them to bring African American and Jewish communities together.
The Caucus will serve as a corollary to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations.
The Caucus is set to launch during the American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s Virtual Global Forum.
Senator Rosen holds the distinction of being the third female Jewish Senator in U.S. history, as well as the first former synagogue president to serve in the United States Senate. As such, Senator Rosen has been an outspoken advocate of combating anti-Semitism in the United States, the Middle East, Europe, and around the world.
Last Congress, Senator Rosen launched the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism alongside Senator James Lankford (R-OK).
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