Jewish Dems Mark Two Years Since Charlottesville with a Call for Political Change

WASHINGTON — Today marks two years since neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched in a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulting in the death of an innocent protestor, Heather Heyer. Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Executive Director Halie Soifer said the following:

“Two years ago, in 2017, neo-Nazis and white supremacists openly marched in Charlottesville chanting ‘Jews will not replace us.’ Instead of unequivocally condemning this hatred, which tragically resulted in the death of an innocent protestor, President Trump publicly asserted there were ‘very fine people on both sides.’ President Trump’s abdication of moral leadership and emboldening of white nationalism served as the impetus for the August 2017 creation of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA).

Since then, JDCA has served as the voice of Jewish Democrats as we have faced rising insecurity and a president whose policies and rhetoric betrays our values. We have witnessed a dramatic rise of anti-Semitism, including two horrific synagogue shootings, for which a majority of Jewish voters hold President Trump at least partially responsible. President Trump’s emboldening of white supremacy – and his failure to combat its dangerous rise – has directly contributed to the fact that 73% of Jewish voters feel less secure than they did two years ago.

“On this two-year anniversary of Charlottesville, we pledge to do all we can to fight the scourge of hatred unleashed by Trump and condoned by Republicans who have embraced his agenda or failed to speak out against it. Jewish Democrats are demanding political change, and we will vote our values in support of such change in 2020.”