Bipartisan Task Force Marks One Year Since Tree of Life Shooting

Statement

Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), the Co-Chairs of the House of Representatives Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, remember the horrific massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue and honor the memories of the 11 victims.

As the Co-Chairs of the Task Force, the Members of Congress issued the following joint statement:

"It is with the deepest sorrow that we mark the one-year anniversary of the anti-Semitic massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue building in Pittsburgh. In this attack, we lost 11 innocent souls, who were killed simply because they were Jewish. The victims were leaders in their community, beloved by their families, and known as kind and selfless individuals by all who knew them. In a matter of minutes, we lost 813 collective years of Jewish knowledge, history, and life.

"As Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, we are deeply disturbed by the level of domestic anti-Semitic rhetoric and incidents, including everyday violence against Jews. Since the Tree of Life attack, which was the deadliest attack against the American Jewish community in our country's history, at least 12 white supremacists have been arrested for alleged plots, threats, or attacks against the Jewish community, according to the Anti-Defamation League."

"We cannot turn a blind eye to white-supremacy and domestic terrorism, nor can we accept a society where Jewish communities need an armed guard at every service."