Civil Rights Coalition Joint Statement on Antisemitic Hate Crimes

WASHINGTON — JCPA was proud to work with our partners at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on this joint statement from 60 civil rights organizations in response to the antisemitic attacks in response to the antisemitic attacks in Washington, DC and Boulder, Colorado:

“Two weeks ago, a Jewish event at a Jewish museum in Washington, DC was targeted in an act of antisemitic violence that claimed a young couple. Now, on its heels, there has been another targeted violent attack on the Jewish community, this time in Boulder, Colorado. This attack injured 12 people who were peacefully supporting Israeli hostages and has now been rightfully charged as a hate crime. These heinous acts are part of a clear and consistent rise in antisemitic hate and violence. 

As the law enforcement investigations into these acts continue, we must reiterate that the targeting of Jews because of the actions of the Israeli government, or because of their real or perceived relationship with Israel, is antisemitic. And it is unacceptable. There is an urgent need for more resources at the national, state and local level for prevention, for protection, and for cross-community and multi-faith responses. 

We cannot simply call out this hate. All of us who support civil and human rights have an obligation to collectively act to address the horrific rise in antisemitism and the broader rise in hate plaguing our country, which leaves all of our communities vulnerable. Jews and all of our communities deserve to live free from hate. We unequivocally unite against this rising antisemitism. 

At the same time, we also condemn the increase in hate and violence targeting the Arab American and Muslim communities. We fight for the safety of the LGBTQ+ community as we celebrate Pride Month. And we reject growing anti-disability, misogynist, anti-Asian, anti-Black, and anti-Latino bigotry. For 75 years, our coalition has shown that the struggle for civil and human rights cannot be achieved by one community alone; it requires a united effort. The safety of all of our communities is interconnected. While all of this hate is further stoked by disinformation and conspiracy theories, often peddled and normalized by political leaders, we recommit, today and together, to taking action to keep everyone safe and to ensure that the civil rights and liberties of all people in America are protected. 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights was founded by Black, Jewish, and labor leaders and has since grown to become a coalition that represents the diverse fabric of our country. We remain dedicated to the foundational principle of the civil rights movement, best articulated by one of our founders, Arnold Aronson, of what is now the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, who stated that “The struggle for civil rights cannot be won by any one group acting on its own; it can only be achieved through a coalition of groups that share a common commitment to equal justice and equal opportunity for every American.”  

We collectively fought for and won important investments in preventing hate crimes and protecting all communities that are too often the targets of hate. Yet despite the record high number of reported hate crimes, the Department of Justice (DOJ), under the current administration, has canceled more than $30 million in grant programs designed to do just that. Today, we call on DOJ to immediately reinstate all hate crime-related grants that were terminated on April 22; to enforce hate crime laws for all communities; and to protect the Community Relations Service and allow this critical component of DOJ to carry out its congressional mandate to keep the peace in communities, mediate conflict, and de-escalate tensions. 

As we condemn these heinous acts and those who perpetrate hate and violence, we also recommit to ensuring that these events — and the legitimate fear in the Jewish community — are not exploited to justify inhumane immigration policies or to target Arab Americans and those who peacefully and nonviolently exercise their First Amendment rights in support of Palestinian human rights. Attacks on our core democratic norms and values — including undermining due process, the rule of law, civil liberties, and academic institutions — make us all less safe. Just as inclusive democracy requires the safety of the Jewish and all communities, all of our safety requires inclusive democracy.”

Signed by:

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

AFT | Education, Healthcare, Public Services

American Constitution Society

American Humanist Association

Andrew Goodman Foundation

Arab American Institute

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)

Bend the Arc

Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues

Coalition on Human Needs

Common Cause

Defend the Vote Action Fund

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 

Democracy SENTRY

End Citizens United

Equal Rights Advocates

Feminist Majority Foundation

Freedom From Religion Foundation

Hispanic Federation

Human Rights Campaign

Interfaith Alliance 

Japanese American Citizens League

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Justice in Aging

Lambda Legal

LatinoJustice PRLDEF

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

League of Women Voters of the United States 

Muslim Public Affairs Council

NAACP

National Association of Social Workers 

National Bar Association

National Congress of American Indians

National Council of Jewish Women

National Disability Rights Network

National Education Association 

National Health Law Program

National Organization for Women 

National Partnership for Women and Families 

National Women’s Law Center

NBJC

NCNW

Not In Our Town

OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

People For the American Way

Public Citizen

Public Justice

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

Southern Poverty Law Center

T’ruah

The Sikh Coalition 

The Workers Circle

UnidosUS

Union for Reform Judaism

United Church of Christ

UNITED SIKHS

Western States Center