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January 18th, 2021 
Awake Goy 
Following the alarming events in Washington, DC, on January 6, California’s Jewish community has come together to voice a loud and clear message to the US House of Representatives: “Take action to protect our democracy.”More than 110 Jewish organizations, leaders and rabbis from across California that comprise the state’s diverse Jewish community have signed a letter calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to take immediate action to confront hyper-partisanship and rising extremism in politics.The coalition of Jewish entities urged the House leaders to publicly affirm their commitment to “the foundational elements of our democratic republic, working together to rebuild the public’s trust,” the letter read.The letter further noted that the recent events at Capitol Hill have rekindled serious concerns about “the security of Jewish and other targeted Americans,” and mentioned domestic terrorism and online disinformation as growing fears, considering the antisemitic symbols carried by many of participants of the Capitol Hill riot.“For the Jewish community, these concerns go beyond inflammatory rhetoric or abstract concepts of civility and speak directly to security,” said Tyler Gregory, executive director of the San Francisco-based JCRC. “It was not lost on us that some of the rioters wore explicitly antisemitic clothing celebrating Jewish persecution.”Gregory said that “the Jewish American experience has taught us that our future depends on civil discourse and a strong democracy. Our community needs to know that our leaders will not only guarantee our safety in the short run but also safeguard the norms and institutions upon which that safety is predicated.”The letter called on all relevant law enforcement agencies to fully investigate the events that unfolded at the Capitol Hill and to “hold relevant individuals and groups accountable for any illegal and dangerous actions.”
Addressing a possible future incident, the Jewish coalition demanded that Pelosi and McCarthy come together and pass bipartisan legislation that would “ensure an effective and equitable response to future civil unrest on federal property.””We, the undersigned Jewish organizations and community leaders… look forward to your leadership in bringing us together around our common principles to restore civility in America,” the letter concluded.The letter reflects the growing fears of many American Jews who are witnessing increasing instances of far-right activists carrying out antisemitic actions in Jewish communities.Following the riots at Capitol Hill, a Confederate flag was tied to the front door of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, leading the museum to issue a statement connecting “these horrific acts of emboldened antisemitism” and the events that unfolded at the Capitol.The coronavirus pandemic has also led to several cases of antisemitic conspiracies blaming Jews for spreading the virus. These kinds of conspiracies have been mostly circulated online by far-right conspirators and organizations.
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