The Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations Statement on Beth Israel Congregation

Washington, DC – The leadership of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations, U.S. Representatives Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Lee Zeldin (NY-01), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), issued the following statement regarding the hostage situation at Beth Israel Congregation in Colleyville, TX on Saturday, January 15

“As the leaders of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations, we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community following the recent hostage situation that took place during religious services at Beth Israel Congregation in Colleyville, TX. We are grateful to the federal, state, and local law enforcement officials who worked tirelessly to secure the release of the four hostages in the synagogue.

“This antisemitic act was not the first time that a synagogue, and the congregants within, have been attacked in the United States. In 2018, eleven Jews were killed and six wounded when a lone gunman opened fire at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA.

“According to the FBI’s latest hate crimes statistics, Jews were the target of 55 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes in 2020, despite accounting for 2 percent of the U.S. population. This data and yesterday’s harrowing incident makes it far too real that the targeting of Jews and Jewish institutions is happening with alarming frequency in our nation.
“As lawmakers, we stand committed to calling out one of the world’s oldest hatreds. We call for increased security for our nation’s communities susceptible to hate crimes and increased interagency communications to enhance information sharing on hate-related targets and activities.

“On MLK Day, we remember the great words of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.‘ Only together can we work to stomp out hatred.”
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