BySenators Frockt, Billig, Braun, Carlyle, Das, Hasegawa, Holy, Honeyford, Hunt, Keiser, King, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Lovick, Muzzall, Nobles, Pedersen, Rivers, Salomon, Schoesler, Trudeau, Wagoner, Wellman, C. Wilson, Brown, Conway, Dhingra, Fortunato, Nguyen, Padden, Randall, Robinson, Saldaña, Van De Wege, Warnick, and L. Wilson

WHEREAS, Antisemitism is one of the oldest forms of hate and is expressed as biases or bigotry against Jews, just for being part of the Jewish people; and

WHEREAS, The Anti-Defamation League's most recent Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in the United States recorded more than 2,000 acts of assault, vandalism, and harassment, maintaining antisemitism in the United States at its highest levels in over 40 years; and

WHEREAS, The latest FBI hate crime data reports that 55 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes are targeted at the Jewish community, which makes up just 2 percent of the population of the United States; and

WHEREAS, The American Jewish Committee's report found that over the past 12 months, one in four American Jews has been the target of verbal or physical antisemitic attacks in-person, online, or on social media, and that four in 10 American Jews have changed their behavior out of fear of antisemitism; and

WHEREAS, Numerous incidents of antisemitic graffiti and vandalism here in Washington State have included: Defacing the Star of David, a symbol of the Jewish People; using Nazi symbols on or near sites where Jews worship, gather, or work; and slogans accusing Jews of crimes against humanity and controlling the United States government; and

WHEREAS, Jewish officials in Washington and throughout the United States have received threatening antisemitic mail and email; and

WHEREAS, Stereotypes and tropes against Jews have led to significant acts of violence against Jews in this country in recent years; and

WHEREAS, Hatred against Jews is a challenge to the basic principles of tolerance, pluralism, and democracy, and the shared values that bind Americans together; and

WHEREAS, Jews are a multiethnic, multiracial people whose diversity is core to our communities and whose dedication to Washington State is evident in their strong participation in our local school, business, civic, philanthropic, and faith communities; and

WHEREAS, State officials and institutions can play a powerful role in promoting values of tolerance and pluralism and in protecting individuals from acts of bigotry, including hatred against the Jewish people;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate resolve to combat antisemitism, in all its forms, for the protection of the Jewish community of Washington State and to uphold the values of a tolerant and pluralistic society that binds us together as Americans.