Tell Speaker Pelosi Not to Enable Smear Against Rep. Ilhan Omar | Tell Speaker Pelosi Not to Enable Smear Against Rep. Ilhan Omar

Tell Speaker Pelosi Not to Enable Smear Against Rep. Ilhan Omar

In response to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s critiques of Israeli policies, Congress is reportedly preparing to introduce a resolution against anti-Semitism. Congress should not enable this smear campaign against her. Tell Speaker Nancy Pelosi that this resolution should not come to a vote.

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Dear Speaker Pelosi,

I write today asking that you defend a congresswoman from bigoted attacks and reject the politicization of the serious problem of anti-Semitism.

Fighting anti-Semitism, and indeed, all forms of hate, is critical. Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicate that hate crime is on the rise. In 2017, the most recent year for which such data are available, anti-Jewish hate crime incidents increased 37 percent over the previous year. Across the board, hate crimes rose 17 percent, marking the first three-year consecutive annual increase since 2001, when hate crimes targeting Arab Americans and American Muslims, and those perceived to be Arab or Muslim, surged in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.

This context, both with respect to the recent increase of anti-Jewish hate crimes and the post-9/11 backlash targeting Arab American and American Muslim communities, informs our understanding of the current political moment, in which a serious problem has been politicized, even misappropriated, against a member of Congress already subject to undue scrutiny and prejudice.

We oppose the leaked draft resolution on substance and timing. The leaked draft resolution, which advances a misapplied definition of anti-Semitism that conflates it with criticism of the Israeli government, appears timed in response to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s critical remarks regarding U.S. policy toward Israel. During her short time in Congress, Representative Omar has been subject to undue scrutiny on the part of the media, the Trump Administration, and House Democratic leadership. From others, she has faced harassment, mistreatment, and even death threats. In particular, the presence of an anti-Muslim poster associating Representative Omar with the 9/11 terror attacks at a Republican-sponsored gathering at the West Virginia statehouse recalls a painful history of discrimination and targeted violence against our community.

This resolution will not combat anti-Semitism, but will instead further marginalize Arab Americans, American Muslims, and advocates of human rights, both on Capitol Hill and beyond, by ignoring the legitimate policy discussion surrounding the actions of the Israeli government, and the ability for all Americans to be represented in that discussion. This resolution targets Congresswoman Omar at a time when she should be defended.

For these reasons, Madam Speaker, please do not allow the introduction of this resolution.

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