Richard Blumenthal: “I was tremendously proud and grateful to be at the bill signing last week in the East Room of the White House with the…”

“I was tremendously proud and grateful to be at the bill signing last week in the East Room of the White House with the President of the United States, at his side when he put his approval on a measure that took years to pass, the NO HATE Act--known as the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, named after Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer, who perished as a result of the most vicious and vile hate crimes in this Nation's history. The occasion was centered on legislation addressing protection for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. It was a tremendously moving and powerful event when the President spoke passionately and unequivocally that hate has no safe harbor in the United States. I was reminded of those moments with the President of the United States as I witnessed just very recently this surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes across this country. We have seen them again and again and again. The Anti-Defamation League has been tracking anti-Semitic incidents in the country since 1979, and the past three annual reports have included two of its highest tallies. Last year's report recorded more than 1,200 incidents--a 10-percent increase from the previous year. These assaults and insults, brawls, and vicious desecrations have occurred across the country to individuals in synagogues and places of worship, and we should be rising to condemn them now unequivocally and clearly, condemn all of these acts of hate, because we are all in this perilous time together.…”