I am proud to say that our 501(c)3 institution, Eyes form the Ashes EducationalFoundation, and personally as a person of conscience, have signed this powerful document against hate speech and intolerance. And together with adding our voice to the words, we are continuing to teach and to act in opposition to hatred and intolerance.
\nAnn Weiss, Founder & Director<\/p>\n
Jewish Telegraphic Agency \/JTA
\n\t \t U.S.
\n\t \t ISRAEL
\n\t \t WORLD
\n\t \t LIFE & CULTURE
\n\t \t OPINION
\n\t \t ARCHIVE<\/p>\n
December 7, 2016 7:16am<\/strong><\/p>\n (JTA) \u2014 Ninety U.S. Holocaust remembrance institutions, and more than 70 individual scholars and educators have decried the rise in intolerance and hate speech. The institutions and individuals in a statement issued on Tuesday also called on U.S. lawmakers to condemn white nationalist groups and asked citizens to be vigilant. <\/p>\n \u201cRecent months have seen a surge in unabashed racism and hate speech \u2013 including blatant anti-Semitism and attacks on Hispanics, Muslims, African-Americans, women, the LGBTQ community, as well as other targeted groups. Journalists have been threatened. Places of worship, schools and playgrounds have been defaced with Nazi symbols intended to intimidate and arouse fear. \u201cAs Holocaust scholars, educators and institutions, we are alarmed by these trends. History teaches us that intolerance, unchecked, leads to persecution and violence. We denounce racism and the politics of fear that fuels it. We stand in solidarity with all vulnerable groups. We take Elie Wiesel\u2019s words to heart: \u2018I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation\u2019,\u201d the statement continues.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, we call upon all elected officials as well as all civic and religious leaders to forcefully and explicitly condemn the rise in hate speech and any attacks on our democratic principles. We call upon all media and social media platforms to refuse to provide a stage for hate groups and thus normalize their agenda. And we call upon all people of good conscience to be vigilant, to not be afraid, and to speak out,\u201d it concludes.<\/p>\n The statement was co-authored by members of the Association of Holocaust Organizations, a network dedicated to the advancement of Holocaust education, remembrance and research.<\/p>\n There has been a spike in anti-Semitic incidents following the U.S. presidential election, including acts of vandalism featuring swastikas<\/b><\/a> left in public areas as well as on the homes<\/b><\/a> of Jewish individuals<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nWhite supremacist groups have become selfcongratulatory and emboldened,\u201d reads the statement.<\/p>\n