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Jewish Communal Statement Denouncing White Supremacy

October 7, 2020 - The Jewish Labor Committee joins with more than two dozen Jewish communal organizations in the joint statement, below, urging U.S. political leaders and Americans more generally to clearly and forcefully denounce domestic extremists.

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White supremacy is a public safety emergency, a threat to American democracy and a global crisis. When white supremacists are encouraged by our own administration on the national debate stage, the security of the 2020 U.S. election is at stake as are the lives and safety of those routinely targeted by those groups. And the problematic impact of white supremacy in America exists both on the ground and online. Social media companies allow white supremacist groups to grow their membership. Algorithms and engagement metrics augment their voices. Troll storms torment their victims. Platforms are a mechanism for white supremacists to plan their attacks and even broadcast their violence.

We urge all our political leaders and all our fellow Americans to unequivocally and explicitly denounce white supremacy, white supremacist organizations, and the individuals and groups who adopt and act on white supremacist and right-wing extremist ideologies.

Jews as a people have a long history of being singled out, stigmatized, and blamed without basis during times of societal crisis. The Jewish community is not alone in experiencing these stigma. In times of great fear, uncertainty and unrest, the demonization of the other has had the capacity to encourage extreme violence fueled by bigotry, racism, hatred and antisemitism. Knowing the perilous reality of incitement compels us to call on all people and particularly all leaders to reject white supremacy and right-wing extremism.

Signatories:

Ameinu
Avodah
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Bnai Keshet
Chicago Jewish Labor Committee
Habonim Dror North America
HIAS
J Street
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Jewish Democratic Council of America
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Multiracial Network
Jewish Women International
Jewish Women International (JWI)
Keshet
Lab/Shul
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Moving Traditions
National Association of Jewish Legislators
National Council of Jewish Women
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
New York Jewish Agenda
Rabbinical Assembly
Society for Humanistic Judaism
T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Urban Adamah
Women of Reform Judaism