[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ATTACK ON JEWISH PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES
(Mr. SHERMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, over the last 5 years, we have seen a 40
percent increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes. Most are lone wolf
property crimes, late at night.
But last night in Los Angeles, we saw something new: organized
violence. A small caravan of SUVs, waving Palestinian flags, drove to a
significantly Jewish neighborhood. Dozens of men, wearing all black,
with faces covered, disembarked at a restaurant, chanting ``death to
the Jews.'' They demanded that diners either answer the question: ``Are
you Jewish?'' And if they answered ``yes'' or they objected to the
question, they were beaten, some sent to the hospital.
Nearby, an Orthodox Jew, dressed distinctively, was chased down by a
caravan waving Palestinian flags. He ran for his life, and thank God,
he found safety.
The Los Angeles Police Department will investigate these hate crimes.
I also ask that those who criticize the Israeli Government to avoid
rhetoric which will infuse these anti-Semites with the view that they
are somehow part of the American mainstream.
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