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Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH) today sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice requesting the department’s assistance in identifying the scope of the rise in anti-Semitism in the United States.

Specifically, the letter requests the department track a rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes across the country.

“What’s most disturbing about the rise in anti-Semitism across the United States is how little is being done to combat it,” said Congressman Troy Balderson. “This letter is just the first step. Fighting bigotry in all forms begins with individuals’ respect and compassion for others. This unquestionably includes our nation’s leaders, including Members of Congress, who should be held to a higher level of decorum.”

The letter is the result of a survey Congressman Balderson sent mid-March asking his constituents what Congress should do to combat anti-Semitism. The number-one response from 38% of respondents was for Congress to send such a letter. The number-two response from 25% of respondents was for Congress to pass a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, which Congressman Balderson voted for in March.

16 fellow Members of Congress signed the letter, including Congressmen Mike Turner (R-OH), Steve Stivers (R-OH), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), David Joyce (R-OH), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Bob Latta (R-OH), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Peter King (R-NY), Tom Cole (R-OK), John Katko (R-NY), and Randy Weber (R-TX).

The letter is below.

April 1, 2019

The Honorable William P. Barr

Attorney General

US Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20530

doj.correspondence@usdoj.gov

Dear Attorney General Barr:

We write to express concern over recently increased levels of anti-Semitism within the United States and request the Department of Justice’s (DOJ, or “the Department”) assistance in identifying the scope of this problem. Anti-Semitic language, which historically reflects a dangerous and bigoted ideology, often translates into hate crimes against the Jewish community.

As Members of Congress with constituents who may be affected by such unacceptable language and actions, we request that the Department focus efforts on tracking increased levels of anti-Semitic hate crimes. DOJ should indicate any such findings in the annual report on hate crime statistics published by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), as mandated by the Hate Crimes Statistics Act of 1990.

According to DOJ’s definition, a hate crime must include a motivation for committing the crime based on bias. Both religion and race are examples of qualifying bias categories, among others. In 2017, the most recently available data year, over 80 percent of single-bias hate crime incidents were motivated by race or religion. Of the 1,749 total known victims of religiously-motivated hate crimes reported in 2017, 1,017 victims identified as Jewish.

In recent months, such abhorrent acts or threats have been carried out against Jewish Americans in elevated numbers. Students on college campuses across the country have been targeted for their Jewish beliefs and ethnic background. In August 2016, hundreds of demonstrators chanted “Jews will not replace us” at an extremist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In October 2018, 11 people were murdered and seven more were injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the US House of Representatives, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar [MN-05] has spurred further concern with her anti-Israel commentary and use of anti-Semitic tropes.

We stand with our constituents and colleagues of all races and religions and will not allow this bigotry to advance unchecked. We condemn anti-Semitic hatred in all its forms and respectfully request that the Department of Justice take appropriate steps to ensure the American public is aware of and protected from this threat.

Sincerely,

Troy Balderson