Hank Johnson: “Since November's election, it seems that there have been a rise in incidents of hate crimes in this country. This wave…”

“Since November's election, it seems that there have been a rise in incidents of hate crimes in this country. This wave of hate crimes has spread fear and anxiety in communities of different faiths, ethnicities, and cultures across this country. On Tuesday, multiple Jewish community centers, schools, and organizations across the Nation, including in Atlanta, received anonymous bomb threats. This follows a wave of over 120 threats against Jewish community centers across America as well as the senseless desecration of graves at Jewish cemeteries countrywide. I suspect, Mr. Speaker, that these are not unrelated incidents of juvenile delinquents. This is rank, organized anti-Semitic activity. It is systematic and organized activity meant to terrorize Jews in America. This comes at a time when Islamophobia is taking root and spreading across America. Mosques are being burned to the ground, Muslim children are being bullied at school, and Muslim women are subjected to having attackers snatching their hijabs from their heads as they walk the streets. The President's Muslim ban is payback on the pledge he made to his supporters during the campaign.…”