WASHINGTON — Marking National Religious Freedom Day, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Special Representative on Antisemitism, Racism and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement in response to new survey data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on anti-Jewish sentiment among the American public.  

“The alarms have been ringing loud and clear for years about the disturbing rise in antisemitism and related hate-based incidents across America. The latest research conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) detailing the nature and breadth of belief in antisemitic tropes and prejudices against Jews is not surprising, but extremely dangerous and disappointing. The conspiracy theories and disinformation targeted at Jews breeds mistrust in our communities, as well as our economy and government institutions. I appreciate that President Joe Biden created a new inter-agency group to heighten and better coordinate U.S. government efforts to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States. Their first charge, at the urging of Congress and others, is to develop a unified, national strategy to counter antisemitism. As the ADL survey shows, countering antisemitism must be built on a platform of strengthening education and coalition building across all age groups. There is no time to lose. We all must be involved. Leaders and everyone must call out the hate when we see or hear it before it turns to violence or becomes even more ingrained in our society.”

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