Since December, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL-25) has stepped up her efforts in combating antisemitism. According to Jewish Insider, Wasserman-Schultz and several other lawmakers, including Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-23); are urging the White House to increase spending to fund the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.
"Antisemitism is on the rise across the globe and we must ensure our government provides adequate resources to address this ongoing challenge," Rep. Wasserman Schultz writes, adding some rather startling information. The letter highlights a spike in antisemitic incidents in Europe, with France cited as having a 74% increase in antisemitic incidents alone from 2019 to 202. Canada also saw a 54% rise in antisemitic incidents, while the Czech Republic had a 25% increase.
As such, the letter requests an additional $2 million for the Special Envoy, designed to "build upon" the initial 2023 spending bill. This is to "make clear to the world the United States’ steadfast commitment to combating this hate and will help the Special Envoy continue to address the alarming rise in antisemitism while advancing partnerships and opportunities to engage with like-minded international partners."
Furthermore, Rep. Wasserman-Schultz tweets that "to combat rising global antisemitism, the @StateSEAS needs more resources. Proud that my bipartisan colleagues joined me in seeking them."
To combat rising global antisemitism, the @StateSEAS needs more resources. Proud that my bipartisan colleagues joined me in seeking them. https://t.co/VnpsK6vJ63
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) January 13, 2023
Wasserman-Schultz is easily a leading voice in Florida's fight against antisemitism, an effort which draws prominent members of both parties. In December alone, Wasserman-Schultz fought to have antisemitic media removed from Amazon, while fellow Jewish Democrat Ted Deutch spoke of a similar "whole of government" approach in combating antisemitism at home and abroad.
Across the aisle, Senators Rick Scott (R) and Marco Rubio (R) both thoroughly denounce antisemitism after rapper Kanye West and white supremacist influencer Nick Fuentes appeared on Alex Jones' podcast making multiple remarks. Similarly to Deutch, Rubio has called for a "whole of government" approach in fighting hatred of the Jewish people.
