Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility The Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus condemns antisemitic terror attack in Boulder, Colorado

The Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus condemns antisemitic terror attack in Boulder, Colorado

HARRISBURG, June 2 – The Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus issued the following statement today regarding the antisemitic firebombing attack on peaceful “Run for Their Lives” demonstrators in Boulder, Colo.

"Run for Their Lives is an organization I have a personal connection to. It peacefully advocates for the release of hostages still held by Hamas,” said state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, co-chair of the Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus. “These antisemitic attacks are becoming all too common, and while we pray for the recovery of the victims of this heinous attack, statements simply condemning hate and violence are beginning to ring hollow. We need proactive outreach by law enforcement to Jewish communities across Pennsylvania, along with a concerted effort to confront the onslaught of antisemitism we are facing."

The Boulder attack comes as the Jewish community is still reeling from the murder of two Israeli Embassy workers in May. A rash of recent incidents throughout Pennsylvania has further put vulnerable people on edge, including antisemitic flyers being distributed in Squirrel Hill -- the heart of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and the location of the Tree of Life building massacre -- and a hateful anti-Jewish sign displayed by patrons at a busy bar in Philadelphia. All of this follows the third consecutive year of record-breaking antisemitic incidents, as noted by the Anti-Defamation League.

“History is clear,” said state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, co-chair of the Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus. “When antisemitism is tolerated, it turns deadly. What starts as silence or complicity ends in violence and terror. Our hearts go out to Boulder and to Jews everywhere whose sense of safety has once again been shattered.”

The Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus chairs urged members of the General Assembly to continue funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund to meet the urgent and growing security needs of Jewish communities. In addition, they called for the passage of the Anti-Hate Crimes bill package to modernize Pennsylvania’s laws to address hate crimes.

More information about the Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus can be found at pahouse.com/JLC.

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