Today, in the wake of the Bondi Beach Massacre, the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act (ARPA) was introduced by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Maxwell Frost (FL-10) and Becca Balint (VT-AL). We at Nexus applaud this crucial step, bringing common-sense solutions that we know work to combat antisemitism.
ARPA takes a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to combating antisemitism by investing in what actually works.
The Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act fully funds the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and reverses the Trump administration’s closure of regional offices; creates a Hate Crime Reporting Center to ensure accurate tracking of all hate crimes nationwide; establishes a nonpolitical National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism within the Department of Justice to lead a whole-of-government response; and expands the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to protect synagogues, Jewish community centers, and other at-risk institutions.
We also know that while real antisemitism rises, so does the weaponization of antisemitism for partisan purposes. Because of this, ARPA also affirms that criticism of Israeli government policy is protected speech under the First Amendment; ensures nonprofit security grants cannot be conditioned on partisan political ideologies; and clearly states it is against U.S. policy to use antisemitism accusations as a pretext for attacking educational institutions or suppressing constitutionally protected speech.
This has not been an easy week for Jews around the world. Witnessing the Bondi Beach massacre—where 15 Jews were murdered, the deadliest attack on Jews on Australian soil and one of the deadliest attacks on Jews worldwide since the Holocaust—reminds us of just how critical our work in combating antisemitism is. This is an opportunity to take real action.
We urge all Members to support common-sense solutions to combating antisemitism and cosponsor the Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act. Read the full Nexus Project press release here.
Any questions? Reach out to our Executive Associate, [email protected], or our VP of Government Relations, Kevin Rachlin, at [email protected].
Until next time,
Jonathan Jacoby
Executive Director and President
The Nexus Project
