[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8941-H8942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
                        CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Murphy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, I stood here on 
the House floor to speak out against the troubling surge in global 
anti-Semitic demonstrations that followed the latest confrontation 
between Israel and Hamas terrorists. Crimes ranged from the desecration 
of synagogues and other Jewish institutions and businesses, to murders 
and acts of violence and terrorism against Jews.
  At that time, I had just led a bipartisan coalition of over 70 
Members of Congress in speaking out against the rise in anti-Semitism 
and calling on the United States to continue to be a global leader in 
combating such acts of hatred wherever they occur. The United States 
must lead by example which is why I am proud this body has continued to 
condemn anti-Semitism and support efforts to combat such actions.
  With little agreement between the parties and Congress currently, I 
have been proud to see continual bipartisan cooperation on this issue 
that not only impacts Jews, but all ethnic, religious, and minority 
groups; unfortunately, with anti-Semitic violence and incitement 
continuing to increase dramatically, leading by example is not enough.
  That is why I have joined with my good friends, the gentlemen from 
Florida, Mr. Deutch and Mr. Diaz-Balart,

[[Page H8942]]

and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson) in leading over 80 of our 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle to urge the United Nations to 
take decisive action against anti-Semitic attacks globally.
  It is beyond troubling that across the world we are seeing anti-
Semitic rhetoric being circulated widely on television, radio, and the 
Internet and that there are even national political parties that openly 
espouse racist views. Even more troubling is that these hateful actions 
are taking place in many of our fellow member states at the U.N.
  The United Nations must join the United States in taking actions to 
encourage member states to become global partners in combating anti-
Semitism, which poses a severe threat to international peace and 
security. The U.N. can stem the surge of anti-Semitism through a 
variety of methods, including raising awareness of the global 
prevalence of anti-Semitic attitudes.
  The U.N. should urge the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of 
strong hate crime laws. Hate crime laws demonstrate that a society will 
not tolerate unlawful actions motivated by bigotry and that minority 
and ethnic groups are valued members.
  It should also encourage countries to expand education on diversity 
and tolerance because it is crucial that children are brought up in an 
atmosphere of inclusion and taught the significance of valuing 
individuals of all backgrounds and religious beliefs.
  Additionally, the U.N. must encourage heads of state to forcefully 
speak out about the dangers of anti-Semitism which can create an 
environment where violence and escalating tensions can grow and impact 
all communities.
  I thank all of my colleagues in this body who continue to stand up 
against such bigotry and violent acts of hatred, both here at home and 
abroad, as we continue to enlist others in our international community 
to promote freedom and equality under the law. I also want to thank the 
local Jewish community relations council in my district which recently 
held a community forum on addressing anti-Semitism.
  This is a conversation that must be held in every community across 
our Nation and around the world. I hope to see the United Nations and 
all member states join us in expanding this dialogue by denouncing such 
actions and taking decisive action in their own countries to halt these 
hate crimes and acts of hatred.
  Only by working together across party lines and across the globe can 
we successfully eradicate such hate in our world.

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