HENDERSON, NV — Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) hosted local community leaders for a meeting and discussion on the rise of anti-Semitism in America, and how it can be combated through community action. Rosen also discussed her efforts in Congress to address anti-Semitism.
“According to FBI data, we’ve seen anti-Semitic hate crimes rise by 37% here in the United States,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “We have a moral obligation to put a stop to this disturbing trend by calling out everyone, even our friends, when they cross the line. We must stand up against bigotry and anti-Semitism wherever it might rear its ugly head, left, right, or center. Hate has no place in our communities.”
“We applaud Senator Rosen for taking a bold stance to tackle this new rise of anti-Semitism around the world and here in Nevada,” said Jolie Brislin, Nevada Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League. “We look forward to continued work with the Senator, and the Nevada community, to come together to stamp out hate.”
BACKGROUND: 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.
Earlier this year, Senator Rosen helped introduce bipartisan legislation to upgrade the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism to the rank of an ambassador and require its Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation. This month, Senator Rosen attended the swearing in of the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.
Last Congress, Rosen co-sponsored this bipartisan legislation and helped advance it in the House, where it passed by a vote of 393-2.
According to FBI data, hate crimes rose 17% last year — the third annual increase in a row — and anti-Semitic hate crimes rose 37%. Under this legislation, the Special Envoy would become a person of recognized distinction in the field of combating anti-Semitism and religious freedom. The Special Envoy would be required to report directly to the Secretary of State, and he or she would be prohibited from being tasked with other issue portfolios outside this task.
While serving in the House, then-Congresswoman Rosen served as a member of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism.
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