The White House shared its antisemitism strategy in a session titled “A Briefing for the American Jewish Community on the Implementation of the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism,” offered via Zoom on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 8. The session was given by Neera Tanden, assistant to the president and domestic policy adviser.
Shelley Greenspan, the White House’s liaison to the American Jewish community, opened the session with an introduction explaining that the origin of the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism originated in a roundtable discussion in December 2022 with Jewish leaders. While there wasn’t always agreement in the group, it was clear that something needed to be done. Jews comprise only approximately 2% of the American population, but are the victims of a “major portion of bias attacks,” she said.
Greenspan introduced Tanden, director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, describing her as a “national treasure and resource” in her role presenting the strategy to combat antisemitism as both a “governmental and societal approach.” The acts of antisemitism both on and off college campuses since October 7 have escalated to include increasing threats of violence. Tanden noted that the National Strategy provides both the strategy and structure for various agencies and different groups to work within a coordinated framework.
“The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are engaged and working to make sure that threats of violence and actual violence are illegal and taken seriously,” she said. “October 7 was a harrowing moment and the worst since the Holocaust where people were targeted. The domestic focus [in the strategy] is designed to protect people against any violence.”
Even prior to October 7, the Department of Education said that antisemitism is a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Office of Civil Rights sent a Dear Colleague letter reminding schools and colleges that they have a legal obligation to address incidents of discrimination—including antisemitism—and that they could ultimately lose federal funding if they fail to do so.
Tanden shared a quote by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona: “Antisemitism has no place in our society, and I am proud that the department will continue to use all available tools to prevent and address antisemitic discrimination in our nation’s schools. No student should have to face discrimination or harassment because of their race, color, national origin, shared ancestry, such as Jewish ancestry, or ethnic characteristics. The U.S. Department of Education is a civil rights agency committed to ensuring all students have access to learning environments that are welcoming, inclusive and free of discrimination, and we are honored to unveil this awareness campaign as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.”
Tanden noted that she and Cardona had visited the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University last week for a roundtable discussion with Jewish students from several Baltimore-area universities, where they learned that the students were experiencing antisemitism where they had not before. Each complaint form submitted will be addressed by the Office of Civil Rights, and investigated within a 30-day period, and there has been tremendous progress in addressing the complaints. “A person can also fill out the form if they see someone else being victimized. The form can be filled out on behalf of someone else,” said Tanden.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), incidences of antisemitism have increased over 388% in the United States over the same period from the year before. Tanden continued that hate crimes would be brought to the attention of the FBI and reiterated that colleges and universities are responsible for keeping their students safe.
“Targeting someone because they are Jewish is clearly prohibited, as are anti-Muslim and Anti-Arab attacks,” she added.
Tanden noted that “even this late in his career the president sees the increase in antisemitism and other forms of hate. He sees antisemitism as the ‘sharp end of the spear’ where white supremacy is concerned.” She spoke about recent incidents of antisemitism on the left as well.
The background of the recently announced policy to combat Islamophobia was briefly covered, with Tanden noting that both the policy on antisemitism and Islamophobia had their roots in a summit held in 2022. “Anti-Islam is also a form of bias, and the White House always planned to handle Islamophobia in addition to antisemitism. The announcement of the new policy was always in the plans, a long time coming, with the push to do so after the Muslim family in Illinois was targeted and a child was killed. We have to drive both strategies because our boss hates hate.”
In conclusion, Tanden said that the core issue for President Biden is that people should feel proud of who they are. “Being fearful is anathema to what we are as a country.” Diversity is a critical part of the United States, and it has been a difficult month. “We have to fight off the forces of darkness, hate and bigotry and be the bastions of light.”
Deborah Melman is a staff writer at The Jewish Link.
