[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H7532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM AROUND THE GLOBE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Murphy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out 
against the alarming surge of anti-Semitic demonstrations across the 
globe. Sparked by the latest confrontation between our greatest ally, 
Israel, and Hamas terrorists, synagogues and Holocaust memorials have 
been vandalized, Jewish stores have been attacked, Israeli products 
have been boycotted, and the Israeli and American flags have been 
desecrated and emblazoned with swastikas. These cowardly acts are in 
direct contrast to our democratic values of freedom, liberty, and equal 
justice under the law.
  With a frightening number of such despicable acts being reported 
across Europe and Latin America, our Nation must continue to speak out 
in condemnation of these demonstrations.
  We must also be a global leader in stopping the surge of anti-
Semitism, making it clear to other nations that such intolerance and 
hatred have no place in our global community.
  By allowing anti-Semitism to flourish, nations risk fostering an 
environment in which violence and escalating tensions can grow and 
impact not only Jews but all religious, ethnic, and other minority 
groups.
  That is why I am proud to be working with my good friends, Mr. Diaz-
Balart and Mr. Deutch of Florida and Mr. Kingston of Georgia, in 
leading a bipartisan coalition of over two dozen Members of Congress 
and calling on the United States to continue its efforts in combating 
anti-Semitism, especially in the wake of this troubling rise in such 
demonstrations.
  I also want to commend our local Jewish community relations council 
for their leadership on this crucial issue which remains at the 
forefront of our community.
  Partnering with several other local and national organizations, all 
well-respected for their work on combating anti-Semitism, they will be 
hosting a forum in the district I am so proud to represent regarding 
this growing crisis. I applaud their continued work standing up against 
bigotry and raising awareness, both at home and abroad, of the threat 
of rising anti-Semitism.
  Madam Speaker, we must continue to work together to stem the rise of 
anti-Semitism wherever it occurs and help foster an environment more 
conducive to long-term peace throughout our global community.

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