Live coverage here on cspan 3. Congressman walker, we are on the record so i will repeat what i said previously, because our friend who is injured because he tried to wrestle me, he has made the decision to briefly pause his career in Public Service and i dont believe it is the last chapter by any sense of the word, but to say so definitively on the record has been one of the greatest honors of my life, serving on this subcommittee with m mr. Walker and i look forward to serving with you in many different capacities for many years to come, sir. So this subcommittee is meeting today to receive testimony on confronting the rise in antisemitic domestic terrorism. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare the subcommittee in recess at any point without objection, members not on the Committee Shall be permitted to sit and question the witnesses. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. And i will make it quick, because im very eager to hear the testimony of the experts before us. P p powaw, pittsburgh, monsey, 1800 antisemitic incidents in 2018 throughout the United States, 2049 of these incidents carried out by extremists, since december 23rd, over a dozen attacks on jews across new york city. And after each and every one of these attacks, there is some elected official in america that says our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. After each and every one of these attacks, there is some elected official in america who says we must take action. Well, today, that is exactly what we have got to focus on. Why . Why is this happening . How is this happening . But most importantly, what do we do tomorrow and the next week, and the next month . Today in my community and communities across america, jews are afraid to go outside with, afraid to speak hebrew in public, afraid to congregate aamongst their friends and family, afraid to observe the high lowelly days. Over 100 years ago, my great grandfather came to new york city, fleeing antisemitism and he came to new york city and he came to america, because this country is not just a country, it stands for something. It has been a beacon. Against hate. It has been a beacon for freedom. And today, we consider how can we ensure that our best days are not in our Rearview Mirror . We look forward to considering everything from appointing the federal officials, fbi, dhs task force, how do we regulate social media, how do we increase funding to make sure that no person is afraid to pray, whether at a church, a synagogue, a mosque . Today, we consider the lives of antisemitism across the political political spectrum because we realize this is not a problem for any Political Party and this is not certainly something that we should subject to the hyper partisanship and divisiveness that has taken over this town. Hopefully, for a few hours today, we can be a body that considers a problem and solutions to that problem. So with that, ladies and gentlemen, again, thank you all for being here. I would like to acknowledge chairman thompson who is, i think, who is the most extraordinary chairman of the committee in the history of the United States congress. I defer to you, if you would like to make an opening statement, sir. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Im not used to getting such nice comments from you. I thank you for convening this important hearing today. This hearing is an opportunity for all members of congress to come together, and condemn acts of domestic terrorism, and targeted violence motivated by antisemitism. The issue has been a priority for a long time for this committee. As many of you heard, and the may 2019 full Committee Hearing entitled confronting the rise of domestic terrorism in the homeland, weve seen a dramatic and disturbing rise in acts of right wing domestic terrorism, including antisemitic violence in recent years. Unfortunately, recent events have once again confirmed that antisemitic violence is an urgent and growing threat to the homeland. Just last month, the jewish communities in new york and new jersey area were subject to multiple violent hateful acts. These acts have once again reminded us why it is so important for the federal government to work within state and local partners, to combat antisemitic domestic terrorism. Across the country, weve seen houses of worship and other religious institutions have increasingly been targeted for act of violence. That is why i was proud to introduce hr 2476, the american nonprofit organizations against terrorism act of 2019, which authorizes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program for years to come. The Program Provides grants to nonprofits and faithbased organizations, in both urban and rural areas, to help secure their families against potential terrorist attack. Im pleased the bill passed both the house and senate, and i hope that the president will sign it into law shortly. While this is an important step, congress will make sure that all precautions are taken to protect communities targeted by hate, and violence, this includes reevaluating the grants program, funding levels, and working with Community Groups and leaders, to establish Meaningful Partnership to attack this issue. Separately, im encouraged that dhs released the firstever strategic framework for combatting terrorism and targeted violence. Although i still have many questions as to its implementation, this strategy appears to be a step in the right direction. I look forward to continued oversight over the department on this issue, and working together with stakeholders to suggest the improvements in this effort. I hope to hear today additional suggestions as to how this committee, with domestic terrorism while protecting the civil rights and Civil Liberties of all americans. Congress must continue to advocate for policies that protect the Jewish Community and all communities impacted by acts of domestic terror. I look forward to hearing the testimony from the witness, and again, thank you, chairman, rose for convening this hearing. I yield back. Thank you, sir. The chair now recognizes the Ranking Member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Walker. Thank you, chairman thompson and chairman rose. I appreciate your genuine passion on this topic. I want to thank you for scheduling this important hearing and for last weeks subcommittee round table with nonprofit groups which provide important Background Information for todays hearing. We can deny what were seeing take place but there is no question that the rise in antisemitic behavior has increased. The freedom of religion means freedom of belief. And the freedom of expression of those beliefs. This cornerstone constitutional freedom is violated when people cannot gather safely in places of worship, Community Centers, or even their own house. It is also violated if theyre threatened at work, on a college campus, or during community activities. In the past 14 months, since a white supremacist committed the most lethal attack against jews at the tree of life singology, there are multiple attacks, including san diego, jersey city, Rockland County, new york. No community is immune to the threat of antisemitism and unfortunately, it includes areas i represent. Last year, weeks rosh hashanah,s, there was found in winstonsalem, North Carolina and more outside the university, services marking the end of yomz were taking place. Unfortunately, antisemitic attacks in the u. S. Have been rising, and the trends are similar across europe. I can remember after the shooting in pennsylvania, on that saturday morning, i found myself at Temple Emanuel in greensboro, just wanting to reach out to my friends there, and couldnt have been more welcome by the rabbis. Antisemitic incidents in the United States have a variety of motivation, the attack at tree of life was motivated by White Nationalist belief, the jersey city, were connected to the black israelite movement. There were several attacks and slurs against jews in new york city during this past month in december. An attack on any faith is an attack on the faithful. Violent attacks and hate crimes must explicitly and soundly be con demd. There is no one solution to combat faithbased attacks but there is more that can be done by the government, the private sector and the fake faithbased community. We have a very dwred panel of witnesses here today who will offer a number of recommendations including additional nonprofit security grant funding, a greater role for fusion centers, more information sharing an end to the antisemitic boycott, i dont investment sanctions or bds movement. I look forward to hearing more about these and other recommendations from all the witnesses. Finally, broad range of ideologically based hatred in our societys continued obsession with violence has left too many scars across our country. I remain kmully committed about an open bipartisan discussion about domestic terrorism, hateful ideologies an meaningful recommendations for addressing these threats to our homeland. We must continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to help solve the complex problems associated with not only antisemitism, but the proliferation of hate and intolerance. I want to thank the witnesses along with the chairman for appearing here today and i yield back the balance of my time. Thank you, sir. I welcome our panel of witnesses, our first witness is mr. Jonathan greenbra blat, the ceo of ind indiana, the antidefamation league. Thank you for being here. And next, nathan, executive dreamter of the union of Orthodox Jewish congregations of america, and if i could just say one thing, we have seen certainly the Orthodox Community disproportionately suffering from a high rate of these antisemitic attacks. I had the luxury of standing outside my home and people not necessarily knowing im jewish. Our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox Community do not have that luxury. And today, we do acknowledge this problem. And we do thank you for your leadership, sir. Next were knowned by mr. Eugene contvich and i apologize what im doing all uf name, professor of law at George Mason University and finally clifford b. May, founder and president of the foundation for the defense of democracies. Without objection, the witnesss full statements will be inserted into the record. I now ask each witness to summarize his statement for five minutes, beginning with mr. Greenblat. Chairman rose, Ranking Member walker, chairman thompson, and all of the distinguished member was subcommittee, on behalf of adl, thank you for the opportunity to testify today and share our perspective. For more than a century, adl has been battling antisemitism and fighting to secure justice and fair treatment to all. We stand on the front lines of fighting hate in any form. And its fair to say that the past few years have been the most challenging that weve seen in recent memory. Youve already mentioned some of the spots. From pittsburgh, to poway, from monsey, to jersey city. From el paso, to orlando, from charleston to christchurch, and the list goes on. But its not just the high profile Violent Attacks and lethal incidents that i want to talk about today. Its the kid who snaps a heil hitler salute for a gag, its the swas scrawled on a garage door, the College Campuses where jewish students are ostracized for supporting israel. This moment is about women wearing wig, harassed as they ride the subway. Its about men in black hats assaulted as they cross the street. Its the idea that a person isnt safe in their supermarket, in their synagogue, or in their home, just because they are jewish. In fact, in adls most recent audit of antisemitic incidents, we recorded more than 1800 acts in 2018, the third highest tote thal weve seen in 40 years. The results came on the heels of our 2017 audit, which documented a 57 surge over the prior year. The largest on record. And in 2019, in new york city alone, there were more antijewish hate crimes than all the other hate crimes put together. Now, it may surprise you, that this increase is happening against a backdrop of steadily, relatively low levels of Antisemitic Attitudes among the general population. That is, our fellow americans arent hating more but there is a growing group of people who are acting out on hate. So why is that . First, we have leading voices in our nation from both sides of the political spectrum, and academic institutions in the media, in other stations in public life, who are normalizing antisemitism. They are using antisemitic myths and tropes about globalists controlling government, jewish money destroying our borders, dual loyalty to jewish citizens, or attacking the jewish state with the same dangerous myths that were used throughout history to demonize the jewish people. And all of they dont sigma advertising antisemitism and renders it routine. Thats why it is so important that we call out antisemitism whenever it happens, but especially when its uttered by our own allies and friends. We need leaders to stop politicizing antisemitism and weaponizing it for partisan gain, no matter what their political affiliation. We need citizens to step up and demand more of people in public life, that they should insist on a zero tolerance policy on intolerance, full stop. Thats where mr. Chairman, i will just acknowledge that you have shown real courage in speaking out and i applaud you for it. A second reason is that we have Online Platforms that tolerate antisemitism and hate. And im not talking about just adults but children can find horrific hate taking place online with just a click or a swipe. 24 7, 365 days a week. Now as someone who has managed engineers and built Software Products in Silicon Valley, i know the culture there, and i know full well that tech can do good. But its impossible to ignore the fact that it has become an amplifier, a connector, a catalyst for some of the worst types of hate in our society. So its long overdue for the social Media Companies to step up and shut down the neo nazis on their platforms. Companies like twitter and facebook need to apply the same energy to protecting vulnerable users that they apply to protecting their corporate profits. That will take putting more pressure on these companies, and perhaps even new regulations. But today, i want to follow up on what the chairman said, this is not the time for thoughts and prayers. We need resources and action. So let me give you some ideas of what you can do right now, across party lines. Number one, pass a domestic terrorism preejs act to ensure that Law Enforcement agencies deal with violent extremists on the homefront. Pass the no hate, so local Law Enforcement know how to deal with particular the online modern safety act and the never again Holocaust Education act so people can be educated about the evils of prejudice unbound. And fifth, fully fund the nonprofit grants program to shore up institutions and meet the needs of all faith groups, synagogues, their schools, their Community Centers, and do that today. And lastly, i want to encourage the state department to examine whether white, violent white supremacist organizations overseas, those frequently connecting with and inspiring equally violent hate groups here at home, meet the criteria to be designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, if these groups are a threat, to our homeland, and if americans are supporting them, we can bring the full force of the law and society against them. Adl stands ready to serve as your partner. Im grateful for the opportunity to be here. And i look forward to your questions. Thank you, sir. We now recognize mr. Diamond to summarize his statement for five minutes. Thank you, chairman rose, Ranking Member walker, chairman thompson and members of the subcommittee, as mentioned my name is nathing dimon, the executive director of policy policy for jewish congregations of america, the largest in the United States, representing hundreds of singologies and jewish protect cal schools around the country, a noncharitable organization. In the year 1890, in the famous letter in new port rhode island, George Washington ended his letter with a prayer. It reads, may the children of the stock of abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the goodwill of the other inhabitants, while everyone shall sit in safety under his vine and figure tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. I have been asked to testify before, your subcommittee, to describe the problem uniquely faced by the Orthodox Jewish people of the american Jewish Community and that problem is simply this. Now, in the year 2020, in the United States of america, the children of abraham are afraid in a way we have never been before. We are under threat of violence as we walk down a city street or enter our synagogues to pray or shop in a supermarket for kosher groceries. In the United States, even though there has been discrimination against jews for many years as there has been in other places around the world, in the United States it was not predominantly of a violent kind, b