As Hanukkah Begins, Congresswoman Shontel Brown Calls for Action to Address the Rising Threat of Antisemitism

For Immediate Release:

November 29, 2021

WASHINGTON – Following the beginning of Hanukkah Sunday evening, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) called for action to address modern forms of antisemitism and the rising threat it poses to our communities and society.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), hate crimes rose steadily in 2020.  Specifically, the FBI’s hate crime data indicated that nearly 55 percent of all religious-motivated crimes targeted Jews, who comprise approximately two percent of American adults.

“As our Jewish friends and neighbors in Northeast Ohio and across the country gather to celebrate the Festival of Lights this Hanukkah, we must all do our part to combat the disturbing rise of antisemitism in America,” said Rep. Brown.  “Initiatives like ‘Shine A Light’ dedicated to illuminating the dangerous uptick in antisemitism and informing people of the actions they can take to respond to it are critical to addressing this clear and growing threat.  This week, and every week, let us stand together in rejecting antisemitism in all its forms and wherever it arises. Now is the time to make clear that hatred, discrimination, and darkness have no place here.”

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