We must fight all forms of oppression and fight for all human rights including the violence and oppression the Israeli state has forced upon Palestinians, including the hate and violence that Jewish people are experiencing here in the United States, and including the small but vocal faction of persons engaged in unacceptable threatening and violent behavior about the political situation in the Middle East. Such threats, harassment, and violence have no place in this or any country. They are an affront to our founding principles and should not be tolerated.
The Berkeley JACL supports the Anti-Defamation League’s ongoing efforts to identify and root out the scourge of anti-Semitism, and urges anyone who witnesses such an incident, either online or in person, to contact the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at www.ADL.org. Since May 10, 2021, there has been a rise in anti-Semitic incidents reported to ADL by about 75% according to ADL’s preliminary research. This includes violence towards, physical assaults on, and unspeakable slurs shouted at or sent via email to synagogues and Jewish people.
During these times of hate and injustice, our communities need to come together to support each other. As Japanese Americans, we know first hand the deep injury caused when our fellow Americans cast judgment upon us for actions taken in other countries, in which we had no role, and over which we have no control. In recent years, such as post 9/11, we have seen the same injury experienced by the Muslim community. All of these communities have faced harassment, violence, and discrimination in the United States. This hate is misplaced and we must realize that people are not their government. We cannot generalize an entire ethnic, religious, racial or any type of group, based on a few people or based on the actions of a government.
That is one reason of many, why the Berkeley Chapter of the JACL, the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, strongly condemns the recent surge in anti-Semitic violence. This is why we must continue to stand together, support each other and stop all hate, violence and injustices.
Japanese American Citizens’ League
Berkeley Chapter