New York, October 4, 2018 — The World Jewish Congress United States (WJC US) applauded President Donald Trump’s signing into law legislation that expands hate crime protections to religious institutions.
The bill, titled “Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018”, signed on September 28, 2018, was initiated and enacted as part of the response to a series of threats on Jewish community institutions, including bomb threats and anti-Semitic phone calls, that occurred last year.
Rabbi Joel H. Meyers, Chair of WJC US, said,” WJC US applauds the passage of this bi-partisan legislation which provides for additional ways that would discourage and help prevent hate crimes and attacks on religious institutions, including schools, community centers, and houses of worship. In light of the rise in antisemitic threats and incidents in the United States in recent years, and threats to institutions of other faiths, this is a welcome and necessary enhancement to the security of religious communities. We thank Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Cong. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Cong. Derek Kilmer(D-WA) for their bi-partisan efforts in helping to pass the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018.”
