Kamala Harris launches islamophobia strategy... on same day FBI confirms antisemitism at 'historic levels'
Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an anti-Islamophobia strategy amid soaring antisemitism incidents across the US
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Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an anti-Islamophobia strategy amid soaring antisemitism incidents across the US.
The White House has been criticised following the announcement of the project which came just a day after FBI director Christopher Wray informed senators that antisemitism is reaching "historic levels".
In a video released on social media, Harris said plans will aim to: "protect Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim from hate, bigotry and violence.
"And to address the concern that some government policies may discriminate against Muslims."
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In the wake of violence in Israel and Gaza, Wray said the number of antisemitic incidents across the US has increased with 60 per cent of all religious-based hate crimes targeted Jewish people.
It follows the arrest of a Cornell University student on Wednesday who is accused of making threats to bring a gun to campus and rape Jewish women and "behead any Jewish babies".
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton has criticised the new government initiative - slamming the White House's "top concern".
"After the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and a breakout of pro-Hamas activism on campus, the White House is claiming *Islamophobia* is our top concern," he tweeted.
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Harris said: "For years, Muslims in America and those perceived to be Muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fuelled attacks.
"As a result of the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we have seen an uptick in anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents across America.
"Including the brutal attack of a Palestinian-American woman, who is Muslim, and the killing of her 6-year-old son."
President Biden’s support among Arab-Americans has dropped to 17 per cent after he declared support for Israel, a poll commissioned by the Arab American Institute found.
In a video released on social media, Harris said plans will aim to 'protect Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim from hate, bigotry and violence'
REUTERSProfessor Gad Saad, of John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, also took aim at the scheme.
He said: "According to the [FBI] director, Jews make up 2.4% of the US population but are the targets of 60 per cent of hate crimes. This is why it is apparently important to fight Islamophobia according to the White House."
Officials across the US have highlighted a major surge in threats to Jewish people.
The Biden administration confirmed that it was working to tackle antisemitism and other hate speech on university campuses by increasing communications with local, state and federal authorities.