In his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, said his agency has responded to an increase in threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab American communities in the U.S. since the Oct. 7 attack.
Quick Read
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:
- Responded to increased threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab American communities since Oct. 7.
- Commented on the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. and globally.
- Senators’ Input:
- Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan: Jewish leaders in New Hampshire express fear.
- Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida: Jewish communities are scared.
- Statistics Cited by FBI Director Christopher Wray:
- Jewish people: 2.4% of the U.S. population.
- Targets of about 60% of religious-based hate crimes.
- Hate-Crime Investigation:
- FBI investigating the death of a 6-year-old Muslim boy, stabbed by his landlord.
- The boy’s mother was seriously wounded.
- Victims were targeted due to their faith and in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Associated Press has the story:
DHS: Threats increase against Jews, Muslims & Arab Americans in US
Newslooks- (AP)
In his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, said his agency has responded to an increase in threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab American communities in the U.S. since the Oct. 7 attack.
“Hate directed at Jewish students, communities and institutions add to a preexisting increase in the level of antisemitism in the United States and around the world,” he said.
Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan said Jewish leaders in her state of New Hampshire say congregants are scared to go to synagogue, and Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida has heard similar fears from people in his state.
“I know our Jewish families all across my state and all across the country are pretty scared to death right now,” Scott said.
FBI Director Christopher Wray cited sobering statistics in his response, saying that Jewish people make up 2.4% of the U.S. population but are the targets of about 60% of religious-based hate crimes. “That should be jarring to everyone,” he said.
The FBI has also opened a hate-crime investigation in the death of a 6-year-old Muslim boy who police say was stabbed to death by his landlord in an attack that also seriously wounded his mother, Wray said. Police and relatives have said the victims were singled out because of their faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas.
