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Disturbed by Recent Incidents, Cardin Calls on Leaders at All Levels to Denounce Anti-Semitic Incidents and Other Hate-Based Threats

BALTIMORE – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement on the growing number of threats called in against Jewish Community Centers across at least 26 states and one Canadian province.

“I have been deeply disturbed by the growing number of anti-Semitic threats and incidents in Maryland and across the United States. Seventy hate-filled threats intended to strike fear across the country in recent weeks is a troubling trend that we must bring to an end. Leaders from the national level to the neighborhood level must make opportunities to speak out forcefully against this kind of intolerance. This is not only a concern of Jewish communities. Religious-based threats, vandalism and potential violence, whether anti-Semitic or targeted at other religions, are not only criminal but fan the flames of extremism that tears apart societies. Each threat needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness as we band together to discourage such vicious language and activity.

“I am pleased that the president finally was able to read an appropriate statement in response to the recent spate of anti-Semitic incidents rather than continuing to brush off such questions.” 

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