Washington, DC — Iowa’s senior Senator addressed the Senate this past week about hate crimes against Jewish Americans.
Senator Chuck Grassley says that anti-Semitism has been called “the oldest hatred.” Throughout the history of the Jewish people, they have been subjected to cruelty, discrimination and violence, says Grassley. He says that even in modern times, even here in America, Jews are still not safe from this hatred. He says he finds that profoundly sad.
Yet, Grassley says, in response to a “terrible conflict in Gaza,” Jewish Americans have been attacked in recent weeks. He says that the Anti-Defamation League has said that reporting of anti-Semitic incidents has gone up 63 percent since the start of a war between Israel and Hamas.
Grassley went on to list other examples of hate speech and violence against Jewish Americans.
He says he hopes we all condemn this horrible wave of violence against Jewish Americans. Grassley asserts that members of Congress should never vilify Israel or Israelis. According to Grassley, this only fosters hateful attacks. He says, “We can talk about geopolitical problems without demonizing a people.”
Grassley says while battling the recent spike in Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes, we need to remember to combat all hate crimes.
