May 25, 2023
The Biden administration made history today. For the first time, the United States has unveiled a focused strategy to employ all of our government’s resources to stop, deter, and address antisemitism, the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
This whole-of-government strategy includes an extensive list of initiatives. The strategy is a fulfillment of the commitment Joe Biden made in August 2017 following the “Unite the Right” rally held by white nationalists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia: “There is no place for these hate groups in America,” he said. “Hatred of blacks, Jews, immigrants — all who are seen as ‘the other’ — won’t be accepted or tolerated or given safe harbor anywhere in this nation.”
Five years later, in September 2022, President Biden convened the United We Stand Summit at the White House to counter hate-driven violence and rally diverse communities nationwide in support of a shared vision for a more unified America. After that, the Biden-Harris administration began a thorough campaign in December to create a national plan to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate.
Led by Domestic Policy Council Director Susan Rice and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security Liz Sherwood-Randall — with the participation of the Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism — the White House engaged with a wide array of stakeholders and conducted exhaustive inter-agency policy development, culminating in today’s unveiling of the Administration’s national strategy.
Every Jew in America, indeed every American should take pride in this milestone. Through this national strategy, our country actively demonstrates that fighting antisemitism is an urgent American priority that is critical to ensuring a just society for Jews and for all.
Each element of this strategy is vital to the fight against antisemitism, including increasing awareness and understanding of Jewish American heritage, enhancing the safety and security of Jewish communities, reversing the normalization of antisemitism, addressing antisemitic discrimination, and fostering coalitions across communities to unite against hatred.
As a people whose cries for help were not always heard in the last century, we were heartened by the seriousness of the deep and inclusive listening sessions to hear about the experiences of Jews with antisemitism.
We are encouraged that the strategy acknowledges the necessity of employing a diverse toolkit to combat antisemitism, including the Nexus Document. In this way, the Administration makes it possible to address antisemitism in a manner that reflects the contemporary political and historical landscape, specifically concerning the interactions between antisemitism, Israel, and Zionism. This guidance is invaluable for policymakers and community leaders navigating the complexities intersecting these issues.
The Administration’s strategy also incorporates a commitment to respect the civil rights and liberties of all Americans. The fight against antisemitism need not infringe on the freedom of speech, a fundamental pillar of our democracy. On the contrary, the Administration’s efforts to strengthen our democracy weaken antisemitism’s growing foothold.
We applaud the Administration for its decisive, comprehensive actions to counter antisemitism. As President Biden has said: “Evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom and violence of antisemitism will not be the story of our time.” Through this national strategy, our nation will continue to make essential strides in countering the scourge of antisemitism as it moves toward justice and equality for all its citizens.
