Holliswein's blog

We end the third week of January with three mass shootings. We have had 33 mass shootings since the beginning of 2023. What will next week be like?

 

While families and friends mourn their loved ones and offer comfort to those injured, the public debate around gun violence continues to swirl. One thing still remains clear: there will never be peace in our communities until we have a federal law banning assault weapons.

 

It took the Supreme Court eight months in 1973 to change the lives of millions of womenacross this country when they handed down their ruling in Roe v Wade. It was a bittersweet moment. Women could finally take charge of their own health care decisions, but many women had already suffered the consequences from illegal abortions.

 

 

This week's report from the ADL showing a “sizable share of Americans believe anti-Jewish stereotypes” is concerning and alarming to the Jewish community and to our democracy.

 

U.S. Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lisptadt, who has briefed JAC members on antisemitism on numerous occasions, has said that antisemitism “morphs into other hatred.” She has said “this panoply of hatreds” comprises a national security threat here at home and to foreign countries, as well.

 

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. It took $30 million to clean the stains from the Capitol. Much of the fencing and protective barriers are gone. However, the scars still linger on the nation’s soul. From that day forward, none of us would ever take our democracy for granted. 

 

 

Democracy was highlighted this week when the January 6th committee delivered their final report and then when Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Congress Wednesday night. In a rare moment for Congress, Democrats and Republicans stood up together for Zelenskyy's remarks. Partisan differences were placed aside and we showed Ukraine and the world that we can unite.

 

 

This week marked the 10th anniversary of that horrific day in Newtown, CT, when 20 children and 6 adults were killed within minutes at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. For those families, the anniversary is just one more reminder of the 3652 days they have been forced to face without their loved one. 

 

But the Sandy Hook community is not unique. Mass shootings in the U.S. have nearly tripled since 2013. These shootings have occurred at other schools and have also targeted the Jewish community, the LGTBQ community, and other minority groups.

 

Finally the 2022 election season has come to a close with the re-election of Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). JAC was proud to play a role in that victory. We wrote postcards, raised money, phoned and texted voters. We even travelled to Georgia to knock on doors in critical Fulton county. 

 

We have barely settled the 2022 midterm election, but it seems that 2024 is already gearing up. So far there is nothing new. Donald Trump is once again stoking the flames of antisemitism, with help from his friend Kanye West and white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

 

At JAC, we are thankful that more than 80 JAC candidates will be part of the next Congress. We are grateful for your support which enabled us to send these champions of democracy to Washington.

 

At JAC, we are thankful that more than 80 JAC candidates will be part of the next Congress. We are grateful for your support which enabled us to send these champions of democracy to Washington.