May 2019: Hate Speech and Hate Crimes
Hate speech and hate crimes are on the rise. Click here to urge Congress and the Trump administration to condemn anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and bigotry.
Acts of harassment, vandalism, and assault against Jewish people have skyrocketed in recent years. On October 27, 2018, Shabbat worshipers were massacred at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; on April 27, 2019, a gunman killed one person and injured many at the Chabad of Poway, California. In 2015, 941 anti-Semitic incidents were reported, but in 2016, they totaled 1,267. And in 2017, 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents occurred in the United States—a 57% increase. (Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents: Year in Review 2017)
The Jewish people are not the only victims of hate. Indeed, violence against other communities—such as people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, Sikhs, and Muslims—has been on the rise as well.
Our government should make it clear that it does not condone this culture of hatred and violence. Click here to tell your political representatives to visibly and consistently act to delegitimize anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and other bigotry.
What can I do now?
Words are not enough to solve hate-related violence—our government must act, too. Tell Congress to pass legislation that will make America safe again.
Here is a list of common-sense policies that Congress should adopt to help prevent gun violence and save lives:
- Banning the purchase and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, by passing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 (S.66)
- Opposing concealed carry reciprocity, which would allow anyone with a concealed carry permit in one state to carry a concealed weapon in all states
- Establishing universal background checks, closing the private sale loophole, and strengthening the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, by passing the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R.8) and the Background Check Expansion Act (S.42)
- Repealing the Dickey Amendment, and restoring funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for research on gun violence
- Closing the Charleston loophole, which permits licensed dealers to sell guns to purchasers if three business days pass without a positive background check verdict
- Enacting a gun violence restraining order law, which would temporarily prohibit an individual from purchasing firearms when deemed by a judge to pose a danger to self or others
- Opposing legislative efforts to deregulate the purchase and sale of gun silencers
- Closing the “boyfriend loophole”, which allows convicted abusers and stalkers to buy and own firearms, by passing the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act (H.R.569/S.120)
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