(Washington) Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, said on Wednesday that an upsurge in anti-Semitism in the United States demonstrates that an “epidemic of hate” exists in the country and should not become the norm.
Mr. Emhoff, who is Jewish, moderated a roundtable at the White House on the issue with Jewish leaders representing various Jewish denominations, from Reform to Orthodox.
“There is an epidemic of hatred that threatens our country. We are seeing a rapid increase in anti-Semitic speech and gestures, he said. Let me be clear: words have meaning. People are no longer content to say aloud what they think quietly: they scream it, literally. »
Emhoff said such attitudes are dangerous and should not be tolerated. “We cannot trivialize them. We all have an obligation to condemn these despicable acts, he said. We all – all of us – must denounce them. »
Mr. Emhoff is the first Jewish spouse of a US president or vice-president and is increasingly outspoken about growing prejudice against Jews – and hatred in general in the United States.
The roundtable, which was also attended by various White House officials, follows a wave of anti-Jewish statements in the United States from public figures, including rapper Ye.
Former President Donald Trump recently welcomed Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes to his Florida home. Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, expressed his love for Adolf Hitler in an interview. Basketball star Kyrie Irving appeared to be promoting an anti-Semitic film on social media.
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