Biden-Harris Administration released the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism (25/05/2023)

JUNE 02, 2023

The Biden-Harris Administration released the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism on May 25, 2023. The strategy outlines a whole-of-society approach to tackle the scourge of antisemitism in America. It features over 100 meaningful actions that over two dozen government agencies will take to counter antisemitism, as well as over 100 calls to action for Congress, State and local governments, companies, technology platforms, students, teachers and academics, civil society and faith leaders, and others to counter antisemitism. The four pillars of the strategy address key themes and threats raised by over 1,000 diverse stakeholders across the Jewish community and beyond: (1) increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism, including its threat to America, and broaden appreciation of Jewish American heritage; (2) improving safety and security for Jewish communities; (3) reversing the normalization of antisemitism and countering antisemitic discrimination; and (4) building cross-community solidarity and collective action against hate.

Toward that aim, my Administration has developed the first U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. It represents the most ambitious and comprehensive U.S. government-led effort to
fight antisemitism in American history. It also brings Americans together—regardless of our backgrounds and beliefs—to stand united against the hate, racism, bigotry, and violence that
have long haunted our Nation. The Strategy outlines a whole-of-society effort to combat antisemitism, including unprecedented, coordinated, and bold actions that will be implemented across government agencies, as well as calls to action for public officials, private sector leaders, and Americans from every sector, industry, and walk of life. The Strategy—which reflects input from over 1,000 Jewish community stakeholders, faith and civil rights leaders, State and local officials, and more—also serves as a blueprint for tackling other forms of bigotry, hate, and bias that fuel toxic divisions in America.

Biden

Table of Contents

Overview ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Framing the Challenge and Solution………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Our Strategic Approach………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11
Pillar 1: Increase Awareness and Understanding of Antisemitism, Including its Threat to
America, and Broaden Appreciation of Jewish American Heritage……………………………….. 13
Strategic Goal 1.1—School-Based Education ……………………………………………………………….. 13
Strategic Goal 1.2—Outside of the Classroom………………………………………………………………. 17
Strategic Goal 1.3—Research……………………………………………………………………………………… 22
Pillar 2: Improve Safety and Security for Jewish Communities…………………………………….. 23
Strategic Goal 2.1— Data Collection …………………………………………………………………………… 23
Strategic Goal 2.2—Combatting Hate Crimes……………………………………………………………….. 25
Strategic Goal 2.3—Physical Security ………………………………………………………………………….. 28
Strategic Goal 2.4—Threat Information-Sharing …………………………………………………………… 29
Strategic Goal 2.5—Community-Based Prevention Efforts……………………………………………… 30
Strategic Goal 2.6—Support for Victims of Attacks………………………………………………………… 32
Strategic Goal 2.7—Addressing Foreign Support for Antisemitism………………………………….. 33
Pillar 3: Reverse the Normalization of Antisemitism and Counter Antisemitic
Discrimination…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35
Strategic Goal 3.1—Speaking Out Against Antisemitism ………………………………………………… 35
Strategic Goal 3.2—Tackling Antisemitism Online ………………………………………………………… 37
Strategic Goal 3.3—Digital and Media Literacy and Civics Education…………………………….. 39
Strategic Goal 3.4—K-12 Schools and College Campuses………………………………………………. 40
Strategic Goal 3.5—Federal Nondiscrimination Laws……………………………………………………. 43
Strategic Goal 3.6—Access to Government Programs and Religious Accommodations ……… 46
Pillar 4: Build Cross-Community Solidarity and Collective Action to Counter Hate ……… 48
Strategic Goal 4.1—Cross-Community, Solidarity-Building Efforts…………………………………. 49
Strategic Goal 4.2—Multi-Faith Partnerships……………………………………………………………….. 51
The Way Forward……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 54
Endnotes.

Antisemitism spiked during the 1920s and 1930s when right-wing populists, including Father Charles Coughlin, spread antisemitic conspiracy theories. As World War II broke out, the isolationist movement in the United States spread accusations that Jewish financiers were secretly driving U.S. policy—a view advocated by the prominent airplane pioneer Charles Lindbergh.The Nazis borrowed from Jim Crow laws to implement the Nuremberg Laws that isolated Jews as a separate race, before initiating the Holocaust to eradicate the Jewish people, as well as murder Roma and Sinti, Black, LGBTQI+, and Slavic people, people with disabilities, and other religious minorities. Despite some knowledge of Nazi atrocities, the United States government did not ease immigration quota restrictions on Jews, and even turned away Jewish refugees fleeing from the Nazis.

The American Jewish community is diverse, and Jews from a wide variety of backgrounds and identities face hate and antisemitism. That includes Jews who adhere to different levels of religious observance or denominations of practice, Jews of color, first-generation Americans, LGBTQI+ Jews, Jews with disabilities, Jews who live in urban and rural communities, Jews of different political affiliations, and Jews of different socioeconomic and income levels. Though there are many ways of being Jewish, any Jew or anyone perceived to be Jewish can be the target of antisemitism.

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In September 2022, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found that peer harassment that included mimicking “Heil Hitler” salutes and drawing Swastikas on photographs of students’ faces created a hostile environment that another Arizona school district had notice of and failed adequately to address. To remedy the violations, the district agreed to provide support and remedies to affected students, conduct a climate assessment regarding harassment, review and revise policies to address harassment, train staff including regarding implicit bias, and provide developmentally appropriate educational programs for students about how to recognize and report harassment.