The US Justice Department announced two new steps in the fight against antisemitism: the establishment of a civilian advisory committee to combat antisemitism, which will submit recommendations to the attorney general, and the launch of a nationwide campaign in 15 cities that will collect testimony, document local failures and promote legal and federal action through the federal task force to combat antisemitism.
The initiatives are intended to strengthen cooperation between the federal government, local law enforcement agencies and Jewish communities, increase reporting of antisemitic incidents, address antisemitism in schools and teachers' organizations, and formulate more effective responses to antisemitic threats across the US.
Speaking to Israel Hayom, Leo Terrell, chairman of the Justice Department's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and the official who will lead both initiatives, said the meaning of the moves was clear to him.
"This proves one thing: Donald Trump is the greatest friend the Jewish community has ever had as a president in the White House. This is simply further proof of that commitment," he said.
Direct backing from the Justice Department
According to Terrell, the moves were launched thanks to direct backing from the Justice Department's top leadership.
"The reason I am able to advance these two programs is not only the president's leadership, but also a renewed commitment from Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, and Stanley Woodward, the associate attorney general," he said.
"A month ago, they called me into the office and told me I could run with these two programs. That kind of support is unique, and that is why we are pushing these things forward."
Terrell explained that the advisory committee was meant to complement the work of the Justice Department's official task force.
"Unlike my task force, which is made up of Justice Department employees, this is a citizens' committee, people from within the community," he said. "Citizens who recognize that antisemitism is running rampant. It is happening at the local level, in cities across the country, and we will not merely discuss the issue as many others have done, but will come forward with solutions."
15-city campaign gets underway
According to Terrell, the main problem is failure at the local level.
"Antisemitism is taking place in local cities across this country. Very little has been done. We need solutions at the local level, and the federal government can really only step in as a last resort," he said.
Terrell noted that the 15-city National Awareness & Action Tour was a program he initiated himself.
"This is something I can honestly say came from my own head, because I think we need to go where the problems are," he said. "In cities that have ignored antisemitism, you will usually see politicians and prosecutors come in and say, 'We will do this and that.' They are not invited. Who will be invited? The victims in those cities, and we will offer them solutions."
Terrell criticized local authorities in major cities.
"I don't want to throw every local elected official under the bus," he said, "but there are cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia. They have done nothing to stop antisemitism. Maybe there are some who have tried, but the people with power have done nothing."
Threats to withhold federal funding
Terrell said the campaign was not intended to provide a platform for political statements.
"I am not allowing people who put on shows with fake speeches to come. We will not invite them. We are going to the victims, to the source. We will tell them that the officials who failed to deal with the problem need to be replaced. We may need to file lawsuits against teachers' organizations that engage in antisemitic conduct. We will need to challenge curricula," he said.
Terrell stressed that the federal government sought to compel local authorities to act, but did not rule out federal action if no response was forthcoming.
"Police departments, district attorneys and school districts are obligated to report and investigate antisemitic conduct," he said. "We want them to submit reports and proper documentation. If they do not take corrective action, it makes our work at the federal level much easier."
Terrell elaborated: "It opens the door for the federal government to take corrective action, file appropriate legal measures and withhold federal funding. Many resources that local authorities rely on are grants from the federal government. We can freeze that."
Time to abolish the "Jewish tax"
One of the ideas under consideration, he said, is the creation of a public alert system that would expose places where antisemitism is not being addressed.
"We will create a social media alert system that will expose and shame cities that fail to take action," he said. "Most of these cities get away with it because this antisemitic conduct is not reported. It is not known. Not anymore."
Terrell emphasized what he called the "Jewish tax."
"What disturbs me more than anything else is that leaders in Jewish communities in cities across the country have to pay a 'Jewish tax,'" he said. "This is an additional security payment that reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars so that Jews can go to synagogue or hold a Jewish event in their city. This has to stop. There needs to be support from local police when the Jewish community is threatened."
Terrell stressed that he viewed the fight against antisemitism as a civil rights issue that extends beyond the Jewish community.
"This is not only a Jewish issue. This is what drives my haters crazy: I am a Black guy, and I have a fire in my belly to fight antisemitism because this is an issue of Western civilization. We will not speak only to Jews, but to Christians, Baptists, Blacks, whites and brown people who believe in freedom of religion," he said.
Terrell explained how his personal identity motivates him.
"I am proud to be the face, which happens to be Black, leading this task force, leading the advisory committee and leading the 15-city campaign," he said. "I was a civil rights lawyer for 35 years, and that applies to everyone, including Jews. I also know the history of Blacks and Jews together in the 1960s, and that Jews helped the NAACP, the leading organization for the advancement of African American civil rights. Many people in this country have forgotten their history."
